afterlife

noun

af·​ter·​life ˈaf-tər-ˌlīf 

1

: an existence after death

2

: a later period in one's life

3

: a period of continued or renewed use, existence, or popularity beyond what is normal, primary, or expected

a TV show with a long afterlife in syndication

Synonyms of afterlife

• age
• twilight
• evening
• afternoon
• autumn

Examples of afterlife in a Sentence

Does he believe in an afterlife?

written in afterlife, his memoirs reveal a kinder, more forgiving man

Recent Examples on the Web

Cattelan spoke to the Financial Times about the strange afterlife of the work, which has become both a symbol of the art market’s excesses and a reminder of his talent for turning absurd ideas into global spectacles. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026

The first two are white families who contributed to the violence and its afterlife. — CBS News, 12 July 2026

Then Gaia learned about the booming digital-afterlife industry, which is worth billions of dollars. — Gaia Alari, New Yorker, 9 July 2026

So, any hope for the two best platonic friends to reunite in the afterlife, or perhaps a follow-up season? — Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

after- + life entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for afterlife

• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• knife

Kids Definition

afterlife

noun

af·​ter·​life -ˌlīf 

1

: an existence after death

2

: a later period in one's life