aftermath
Americannoun
noun
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signs or results of an event or occurrence considered collectively, esp of a catastrophe or disaster
the aftermath of war
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agriculture a second mowing or crop of grass from land that has already yielded one crop earlier in the same year
Etymology
Origin of aftermath
1515–25; after + math a mowing, Old English mǣth; cognate with Old High German mād ( German Mahd ); akin to mow 1
Explanation
The aftermath of a car crash might include a broken fender, a sprained rib, and a lecture from a police officer. The consequences of an unpleasant event make up its aftermath. The math in aftermath does not refer to adding or subtracting numbers, rather it is related to a Germanic word for mowing, or harvest. If you have been mowed down by a class of excited first graders, the aftermath might be a bruised knee, a headache from all of the squealing, and red face from embarrassment.
Vocabulary lists containing aftermath
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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.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the government was in talks with Wildberries regarding state support in the aftermath of the strikes, but that no decision had been made.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Police Scotland said it had received reports of various athletes "unaccounted for" in the aftermath of the Games, which concluded on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The handling of evacuations emerged as a point of criticism in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires, which killed 31 people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Video of the fire aftermath on Sunday showed scores of homes burned to the ground, with only their brick fireplaces and foundations remaining, while other houses nearby escaped practically unscathed.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
In the heat of the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kisevalter was told bluntly that the CIA "does not communicate with an enemy intelligence service."
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
