aforethought
adjective
afore·thought
ə-ˈfȯr-ˌthȯt 
: previously in mind : premeditated, deliberate
—used postpositively
Yes, you can wear shorts in the workplace but not without some consideration aforethought. You may ultimately be exposing more than just your knees.—
Vanessa Friedman
Vanessa FriedmanAnyone who drinks while expecting to drive later is, with indifference aforethought, risking the lives and safety of everyone on the road …—The Buffalo (New York) News
see also malice aforethought
The Buffalo (New York) News
aforethought
noun
… they reached a verdict … finding that he was responsible for the deaths but lacked "aforethought" and intent.
—Ryan P. Cruz and Rodrigo Hernandez
Ryan P. Cruz and Rodrigo Hernandez
Examples of aforethought in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Páez was also convicted of two counts of aggravated homicide, qualified by intent and malice aforethought.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2023
Depraved-indifference murder is not supposed to be a sleight-of-hand that elevates manslaughter to murder, or that effectively turns an unintentional killing into an intentional murder by substituting depraved indifference for malice aforethought.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 7 Mar. 2021
Had Styles — either completely by accident or with malice aforethought — unleashed a mouthful of spit upon his elder co-star?
—Vulture, 7 Sep. 2022
The leak of a draft majority opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade is an unprecedented breach of trust, and one that must be assumed was done with malice aforethought.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 May 2022
The media have medical specialists on call who will quickly second guess every non-disclosure, often with political malice aforethought.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2020
In December, Newman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with malice aforethought.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE.com, 9 July 2020
Armando Iannucci’s absurdist comedy reveals this in an extremely loose manner of speaking, with malice aforethought, straight-faced glee and formidable sharpshooting that occasionally misfires.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2018
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Greg Wehner, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2023
Depraved-indifference murder is not supposed to be a sleight-of-hand that elevates manslaughter to murder, or that effectively turns an unintentional killing into an intentional murder by substituting depraved indifference for malice aforethought.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 7 Mar. 2021
Had Styles — either completely by accident or with malice aforethought — unleashed a mouthful of spit upon his elder co-star?
—Vulture, 7 Sep. 2022
The leak of a draft majority opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade is an unprecedented breach of trust, and one that must be assumed was done with malice aforethought.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 May 2022
The media have medical specialists on call who will quickly second guess every non-disclosure, often with political malice aforethought.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2020
In December, Newman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with malice aforethought.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE.com, 9 July 2020
Armando Iannucci’s absurdist comedy reveals this in an extremely loose manner of speaking, with malice aforethought, straight-faced glee and formidable sharpshooting that occasionally misfires.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Aforethought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aforethought. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aforethought
adjective
afore·thought
-ˌthȯt
: thought of or planned beforehand : premeditated
with malice aforethought
Legal Definition
aforethought
adjective
afore·thought
ə-ˈfōr-ˌthȯt
: previously in mind : premeditated
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