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 posthumous resurrection of Babitz’s writings is most welcome.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Since Kahlo became a posthumous sensation, her works have attracted deep-pocket collectors, among them Madonna.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
In “The Disraeli Myth,” Emily Jones deftly traces the posthumous remaking of her subject as a conservative icon with appeal beyond Britain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Yes, you can structure a trust that gives an independent trustee quite a lot of discretion over posthumous distributions.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
The Hamiltonian story required a distortion in the sequence of the exchange in order to preserve Hamilton’s posthumous reputation.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
