posthumous

American  

[pos-chuh-muhs, -choo-] / ˈpɒs tʃə məs, -tʃʊ- /

adjective

1. arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death.

   a posthumous award for bravery.

2. published after the death of the author.

   a posthumous novel.

3. born after the death of the father.

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posthumous British  

/ ˈpɒstjʊməs /

adjective

1. happening or continuing after one's death

2. (of a book, etc) published after the author's death

3. (of a child) born after the father's death

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Other Word Forms

• nonposthumous adjective
• posthumously adverb
• posthumousness noun

Etymology

Origin of posthumous

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin postumus “last-born, born after the death of the father” (in form a superlative of posterus; posterior ); post-classical spelling with h by association with humus “ground, earth,” as if referring to burial

Example Sentences

Catherine O’Hara won a posthumous Actor Award for actress in a comedy series for her role in “The Studio.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne was awarded a posthumous lifetime achievement award, seven months after his death at the age of 76.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

I confess I’m not impervious to the posthumous allure.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Sunday paid tribute to Afrobeat king Fela Kuti after his posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys, the first African artist to be honoured this way.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Now Cabot Searcy felt as if he had been given some sort of posthumous assignment from Benton.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley