noun
afterthought
AFT-thawt
Afterthought (noun) means something thought of or added later, often as a minor addition rather than part of the original plan. Example: “The garage was added as an afterthought.”
noun
1
Something thought of or added later, often as a minor addition rather than part of the original plan.
"The garage was added as an afterthought."
"He mentioned it almost as an afterthought at the end of the meeting."
How to use afterthought
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething added on later, without much planning, often making it feel less important.
Common mistake
Being treated as "an afterthought" (feeling unimportant to someone) is a common figurative use.
Common pairings
as an afterthought
treated like an afterthought
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Word forms
- Plural
- afterthoughts
- Third person singular
- afterthoughts
- Past tense
- afterthoughted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The garage was added as an _____.
Etymology
A compound of "after" + "thought," likely modeled on the earlier word "forethought."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for afterthought
See all rhymes for 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.
