aftershock

noun

af·​ter·​shock ˈaf-tər-ˌshäk 

1

: an aftereffect of a distressing or traumatic event

2

: a minor shock following the main shock of an earthquake

Examples of aftershock in a Sentence

The first aftershock came just minutes after the earthquake.

Recent Examples on the Web

More than 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the U.N. Since the earthquake, many people have been sleeping outside, either because homes were destroyed or out of fear of aftershocks. —Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2025

Images from the Southeast Asian country on Saturday show the aftermath of the earthquake and tremors, including a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. —James Powel, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025

What To Know The earthquake struck at midday local time Friday near Mandalay, followed by several aftershocks—including one measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude—that toppled buildings and bridges and buckled roads. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025

The earthquake struck midday on Friday, followed by several aftershocks, including one that measured 6.4. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

after- + shock entry 1

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aftershock

• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock