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

Where its predecessor dominated this corner of north west London, now Wembley feels like an afterthought amid a sea of high-rises. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

Aries energy reminds you that your healing and your sense of home deserve to be a priority, not an afterthought. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025

Plants and natural forms are not afterthoughts, but recurring motifs. —Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025

This is the American West actualized and disoriented, where humans are an afterthought. —Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

after- + thought entry 1

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for afterthought

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot
• flowerpot
• huguenot

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