hindsight

noun

hind·​sight ˈhīn(d)-ˌsīt 

: perception of the nature of an event after it has happened

In hindsight, it's clear there were alternatives.

Hindsight is twenty-twenty.

Examples of hindsight in a Sentence

It's easy for us to say that the war was wrong, but we have the advantage of hindsight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sweetin has recently reflected on how much playing Stephanie meant to her in hindsight. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026

Stephan’s letter noted that the law requires her office to evaluate his decision to use deadly force from the perspective of a reasonable officer based on the totality of the circumstances, and not with the benefit of hindsight. — Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026

Having that utility against Argentina, which might have allowed England an avenue up the pitch, certainly sounds preferable in hindsight. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Trump has deprived us of the particular luxury of hindsight for more than a decade now. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hindsight

• twenty-twenty hindsight

Rhymes for hindsight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

hindsight

noun

hind·​sight ˈhīn(d)-ˌsīt 

: realization of the meaning or importance of an event only after it has happened