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

The redshirt senior has almost become an afterthought in the national player of the year conversation, especially after USC sophomore JuJu Watkins launched herself back into consideration by carrying the Trojans to an upset over No. 1 UCLA on Thursday night. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2025

Presidents have treated the Labor Department as an afterthought for most of my lifetime. —John Samuelsen, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025

The lunch menu seems like an afterthought, but the most popular items are the cheesesteak panini or a Buffalo chicken wrap. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2025

Lamine Yamal’s second-half strike felt like an afterthought. —Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025

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