a paragraph, phrase, etc., added to a letter that has already been concluded and signed by the writer.
any addition or supplement, as one appended by a writer to a book to supply further information.
a message added at the end of a letter, after the signature
any supplement, as to a document or book
1515–25; < Latin postscrīptum, neuter past participle of postscrībere to write after
A postscript is text added at the end of a book or other document. Your textbook is so long that by the time you finish it, you're too exhausted to read the postscript. Postscript comes from the Latin word postscribere, with post meaning after and scribere meaning to write. A postscript especially refers to a note added after the signature of a letter. In this use, it's often abbreviated as P.S. A mother's favorite thing might be getting a letter from her kid at camp that says, "I love you, Mom," especially if there is a postscript adding hugs and kisses, written this way: "P.S. XOXOXOXOX."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a postscript, Mr. Bailey calls “Muriel Spark” a “roadmap of Spark’s life” to which he referred frequently in writing his own book.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
In a postscript to a later edition of his book “The Intelligent Investor,” Graham reflected on the debt his lifetime track record owed to just one company — Geico.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
But there are some indications that this particular release will be a farewell postscript for Alito’s service.
From Slate ● Feb. 13, 2026
Rowling said that moment had "a postscript that hurt far more than the speech itself", when Watson sent a note, despite having her phone number.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025
The talk does not turn into a fight, and Dorus writes a postscript to Theo the next day.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
The PDF, although not adopted as quickly as PostScript, eventually became standard, as the ease of sharing crisp, accurate documents across computer systems made the long-envisioned paperless office a reality.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023
Its printer, the LaserWriter, offered the next year, was based on PostScript and built in partnership with Adobe.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 23, 2021
When Xerox executives decided not to release Interpress, a precursor to PostScript, Dr. Geschke and Warnock decided to quit and develop a version of the computer language on their own.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2021
Their first product was Adobe PostScript, the programming language that helped boost the desktop publishing industry.
From The Verge ● Apr. 18, 2021
Here's a breakdown of the man -k PostScript command line: man.
From Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage by Goerzen, John
But others have gone on to lead lives that are postscripts to Sept. 11, 2001.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2021
Crisis comes when Pearson falls in love with Baffin’s daughter, Julian, in a thicket-like narrative that presents itself as a story within a story, complete with postscripts from the leading players.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 13, 2019
On her second album, the Nashville-based Lunsford rarely rests, kicking off the first couple of cuts and punctuating others with wordless but entertaining postscripts.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 28, 2016
Clarkson's 25 points, including four-for-six accuracy from three-point range, became postscripts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2016
Amy’s face was full of trouble, but she only said, “Don’t people put sort of postscripts to their wills, sometimes?”
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
