afterthought
3 synonyms for afterthought, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Something thought of or added later, often as a minor addition rather than part of the original plan.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
second thought
reconsideration
How to use afterthought
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
as an afterthought
treated like an afterthought
Etymology
A compound of "after" + "thought," likely modeled on the earlier word "forethought."
Full origin of afterthought →Frequently asked questions
What does “afterthought” mean?
The word “afterthought” means something thought of or added later, often as a minor addition rather than part of the original plan. In plain terms, something added on later, without much planning, often making it feel less important.
How do you pronounce “afterthought”?
“Afterthought” is pronounced AFT-thawt (/ˈæft.ɚ.θɔt/ in IPA).
How do you use “afterthought” in a sentence?
Here is “afterthought” used in a sentence: “The garage was added as an afterthought.”
What part of speech is “afterthought”?
“Afterthought” is a noun.
