afterlife

noun

af·​ter·​life ˈaf-tər-ˌlīf How to pronounce afterlife (audio)
Synonyms of afterlifenext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Put a different way, if your series keeps reminding me of a less interesting version of, like, the 2022 Michelle Monaghan doppelgänger dud Echoes, the chances of your series having a memorable afterlife are limited. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026 While traditional schools continue to teach Rikyū’s disciplined aesthetics, matcha has entered its global afterlife of commercialization and popular culture. The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026 This preview of 2026 in poetry includes poets based in California (Northern and Southern), Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and, well, the afterlife. Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026 Inside, a trove of occult objects attests to its erstwhile owner’s conception of the space as a funerary mansion for his soul in the afterlife. Javier Montes, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afterlife

Word History

Etymology

after- + life entry 1

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of afterlife was in 1589

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Cite this Entry

“Afterlife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afterlife. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

afterlife

noun
af·​ter·​life -ˌlīf How to pronounce afterlife (audio)
1
: an existence after death
2
: a later period in one's life

More from Merriam-Webster on afterlife

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