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

An at-home speakeasy vibe that feels more intentional and less of an afterthought. —Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 26 Aug. 2024

Room Ideas These stunning interiors are proof that art should never be an afterthought August 8, 2024 One of the most common mistakes in the design process is leaving art as an afterthought, from forgetting to budget for it to not considering its placement when planning layouts. —Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 8 Aug. 2024

Canyon Barry’s previous hot shooting made Fredette’s absence an afterthought, combining for 29 points in a pair of victories over France and China on Friday. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2024

Cue the reminder that this is Purdy’s first training camp taking all the first-team reps, having been limited last year amid elbow rehabilitation and in 2022 as a rookie afterthought. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 31 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