after-the-fact

adjective

af·​ter-the-fact
: occurring, done, or made after something has happened
after-the-fact approval
an after-the-fact review

Examples of after-the-fact in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Governor's Office announced the budget signing in an after-the-fact news release Friday morning. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2023 Their after-the-fact objection set off debate over how Flynn should be remembered and what role, if any, the state should play in acknowledging her. Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 5 May 2023 The typical filing deadline for the estate tax is nine months after death, though it can be extended an additional six months; an after-the-fact legal tussle with the IRS could presumably add more time. Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'after-the-fact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of after-the-fact was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near after-the-fact

Cite this Entry

“After-the-fact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/after-the-fact. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

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