afterthought

noun

af·​ter·​thought ˈaf-tər-ˌthȯt 

1

: an idea occurring later

made the suggestion as an afterthought

2

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

a seating area added as an afterthought to the office

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

For most, stairs are an afterthought, but they are designed with intention. —Michelle Sinclair Colman, Curbed, 7 May 2026

Expect programming organized around pillars or paths (movement, nourishment, rest, discovery), multiple accommodation tiers, and dining that’s treated as part of the experience rather than an afterthought. —Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026

And a few short years later, brands like Tekla, Autumn Sonata, and Baina had built devoted followings on exactly this premise, treating towels not as an afterthought but as an anchor for ritual in the home. —Angela Tafoya, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026

In normal primaries, the other down-ballot statewide offices are an afterthought for most voters. —John Ramos, CBS News, 4 May 2026

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