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

The alteration was discovered in a copy of the Book of the Dead (a tome filled with spells meant to aid the dead in their passage to the afterlife) that is believed to have been commissioned for a royal archive supervisor named Rambose. —News Desk, Artforum, 9 Mar. 2026

Turner assembles a kaleidoscope of archival footage, performance clips, still photography, and interviews with his Arkestra members and contemporary thinkers who map Sun Ra’s long cultural afterlife. —Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026

An exhibition that dives into the complex world of early modern Italian prints, drawings and the artist’s afterlife between 1500 and 1750. —Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026

Those facts anchor the case, however expansive its cultural afterlife has become. —Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 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
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife

Kids Definition

afterlife

noun

af·​ter·​life -ˌlīf 

1

: an existence after death

2

: a later period in one's life