afterthought
noun
af·ter·thought
ˈaf-tər-ˌthȯt 
1
: an idea occurring later
2
: something (such as a part or feature) not thought of originally : something secondary
Examples of afterthought in a Sentence
Then I remembered, almost as an afterthought, to feed the cat.
The fact was hidden deep in the report, almost as an afterthought.
The lounge was added to the office as an afterthought.
Recent Examples on the Web
The money spent on launching the missile into space has no other possible use because the issues women face on Earth are an afterthought.
—
Vrinda Jagota, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2025
The ‘Frog From Hell’ Had A Bite To Go With The Name
For most frogs, the jaws are an afterthought.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
But there’s an authenticity to this, too: These people are an afterthought to these soldiers, and in its own way their presence becomes symbolic of all Iraqis caught in the middle of a conflict most of them had nothing to do with but were pulled into anyway.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Lu is an afterthought despite the jolt of energy that accompanies Danson’s arrival.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for afterthought
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Vrinda Jagota, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2025
The ‘Frog From Hell’ Had A Bite To Go With The Name
For most frogs, the jaws are an afterthought.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
But there’s an authenticity to this, too: These people are an afterthought to these soldiers, and in its own way their presence becomes symbolic of all Iraqis caught in the middle of a conflict most of them had nothing to do with but were pulled into anyway.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Lu is an afterthought despite the jolt of energy that accompanies Danson’s arrival.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for afterthought
Cite this Entry
“Afterthought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterthought. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
afterthought
noun
af·ter·thought
-ˌthȯt
1
: a later thought about something one has done or said
2
: something not thought of originally
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