posthumous
Americanadjective
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arising, occurring, or continuing after one's death.
a posthumous award for bravery.
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published after the death of the author.
a posthumous novel.
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born after the death of the father.
adjective
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happening or continuing after one's death
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(of a book, etc) published after the author's death
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(of a child) born after the father's death
Other Word Forms
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; see posterior); post-classical spelling with h by association with humus “ground, earth,” as if referring to burial
Explanation
If something happens after someone dies, it is described as posthumous — like the posthumous interest in the music of a singer who died "a nobody." The adjective posthumous comes from Latin — post means "after" and humare, "to bury." (You might also think of humus, which means "dirt" or "earth.") So something that is posthumous happens after a person is dead, like the posthumous discovery that your humble neighbor who lived very modestly was actually a multi-millionaire, or the posthumous publication of a book that the writer finished just before she died.
Vocabulary lists containing posthumous
30 GRE Words Beginning with "P"
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In the Time of the Butterflies
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This Week In Words: November 28–December 4, 2020
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The song, recorded before Parton's death on 25 August, is her second posthumous single.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
One young fan mused, “Is Nixon pulling off the greatest posthumous political comeback in history?”
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
Other highlights from the Emmy pre-ceremonies were a posthumous award for Rob Reiner for best guest actor in a comedy for "The Bear," and seven prizes for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
Rob Reiner has won a posthumous Emmy for his appearance in Season 4 of “The Bear.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
I had heard such predictions all my life from Malcolm and all his posthumous followers who hollered that the Dreamers must reap what they sow.
From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
