afterimage

noun

af·​ter·​im·​age ˈaf-tər-ˌi-mij 

plural afterimages

1

: a usually visual sensation occurring after stimulation by its external cause has ceased

2

: a lasting memory or mental image of something

The problem with the heros of myths is that, although they were once a reality or rooted in one, they rarely matched their lovely afterimage.

—Irvin Faust

Examples of afterimage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But then the mystery more or less fades from view, to be replaced by another that comes and goes in a flash but lingers like an afterimage. — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024

Fire to create an afterimage of yourself that projects a beam of light in Valorant. — Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

In addition to reversing the color of an image, afterimages can convince your brain that an object has changed in shape or size. — Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

Those truths come together in a series of ands and buts, which layer upon and contradict each other, like the afterimages of Tullock in Stefania Bulbarella’s video design. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

after- + image entry 1

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for afterimage

• image
• scrimmage

Kids Definition

afterimage

noun

af·​ter·​im·​age -ˌim-ij 

: a usually visual sensation continuing after the stimulus causing it has ended

Medical Definition

afterimage

noun

af·​ter·​im·​age -ˌrim-ij 

: a usually visual sensation occurring after stimulation by its external cause has ceased

called also aftersensation, aftervision