posthumous

[pos-chuh-muhs, -choo-]

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.

posthumous

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• posthumously adverb
• posthumousness noun
• nonposthumous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of posthumous¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of posthumous¹

C17: from Latin postumus the last, but modified as though from Latin post after + humus earth, that is, after the burial

Example Sentences

Nicknamed “God’s influencer,” Carlo was canonized for his internet evangelism, his faith amid fatal sickness and other reasons, including two healing miracles attributed to his posthumous intervention.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The posthumous publication of his translations and his letters, in 2023, confirmed his reputation, and now we have the most important book of all.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He was stripped of all his titles earlier this month after Giuffre's posthumous memoir threw new focus on Andrew's ties to Epstein and Maxwell.

Read more on BBC

He also teamed up with his longtime collaborator Havoc of Mobb Deep, as they put out the group’s first posthumous release, “Infinite,” since the death of co-founding rapper/producer Prodigy in 2017.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Andrew relinquished his titles earlier this month amid renewed scrutiny of his links with Epstein following the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre's memoir.

Read more on BBC