afterthought

noun

af·​ter·​thought ˈaf-tər-ˌthȯt 

1

: an idea occurring later

2

: something (such as a part or feature) not thought of originally : something secondary

Examples of afterthought in a Sentence

Then I remembered, almost as an afterthought, to feed the cat.

The fact was hidden deep in the report, almost as an afterthought.

The lounge was added to the office as an afterthought.

Recent Examples on the Web

New York has seen waves of technological innovations, and while many have flourished, the broader impact, especially for the most marginalized people, has often been an afterthought. —Tarika Barrett, New York Daily News, 17 July 2024

For years, the Orioles were an afterthought on stages like these. —Chelsea Janes, Washington Post, 16 July 2024

Cucumbers are good for more than just chopping into salads as an afterthought, including: Make cucumbers the centerpiece of a salad by adding fresh dill and a creamy dressing (such as ranch). —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

In multiple press statements and in interviews with The Christian Science Monitor, Hamas is framing its Oct. 7 attack and resulting war as forcing Arab states, Israel, and the U.S. to once again address the Palestinian cause and statehood – after years of them treating it as an afterthought. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

after- + thought entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

afterthought

noun

af·​ter·​thought -ˌthȯt 

1

: a later thought about something one has done or said

2

: something not thought of originally