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

Governance cannot be treated as an after-the-fact compliance layer. — Satish Avhad, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

The states claim the after-the-fact definition is arbitrary, unlawful, and potentially harmful amid a health care worker shortage. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 May 2026

The most likely outcome will be assessing an after-the-fact flagrant foul, with Ball and the Hornets moving on to a Friday night all-or-nothing play-in game, with the Heat’s and Adebayo’s season over. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026

On the other hand, the Pixel 10 phones deliver more accurate color (especially darker skin tones), better processing, and offer more after-the-fact editing tools. — Iyaz Akhtar, PC Magazine, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for after-the-fact

• overreact
• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked