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

Ensuring care is a core requirement, not an afterthought. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

Built into the very structure of the home in 1832, the concealment was not an afterthought or a quick modification. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026

So as kickoff neared, the game was now an afterthought. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026

But Thompson, and most of the players on this list, played in a different era when 3s were a specialty overall — and for big men, an afterthought. —Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 Feb. 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