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

But the Fed has become an afterthought with the bond market more focused on the election. —Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

Sales have become an afterthought with adaptation representing the whole ball game. —Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

The young activists felt that the plight of Dreamers had become an afterthought. —Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024

Lighting tends to be an afterthought in interior design. —Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 25 Oct. 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