aftertaste

American  

[af-ter-teyst, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˌteɪst, ˈɑf- /

noun

1. a taste remaining after the substance causing it is no longer in the mouth.

2. the remaining sensation following an unpleasant experience, incident, etc..

   the aftertaste of a bad marriage.

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aftertaste British  

/ ˈɑːftəˌteɪst /

noun

1. a taste that lingers on after eating or drinking

2. a lingering impression or sensation

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Etymology

Origin of aftertaste

First recorded in 1820–30; after + taste

Explanation

The taste that lingers in your mouth after you've eaten something is called an aftertaste. You might complain that the strawberry bubble gum you love has a weird, plastic aftertaste. You might enjoy the first few sips of a new brand of soda, but find yourself disturbed by the flavor that stays behind on your tongue — this is the aftertaste. Some foods and drinks have a bitter or sour aftertaste, which can be enough to ruin the experience of eating or drinking. You can also use aftertaste figuratively, to mean "a general feeling," as in: "That argument with my friend left a bad aftertaste."

Example Sentences

And like many a postmeal digestif, Fiji is a popular dessert choice for its smooth, slightly sweet aftertaste.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

As written by Claire Dinhut, tonka “has a sweetness to it that resembles grassy, hay-like, fresh vanilla. However, tonka beans also give off a slightly warming and spicy aftertaste of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.”

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

Hunan's fare has "a tangy aftertaste achieved through fermented chilli peppers", she says, unlike "Sichuan's numbing-spicy or Guizhou's sour-spicy".

From BBC • Aug. 16, 2025

It never lingers too long and is just sweet enough in its displays to avoid any saccharine aftertaste or eye-rolling sentiment.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2025

Sometimes when she said something mean, there was a bitter aftertaste.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Related Words

• aftereffect
• reaction