fore-and-aft

1 of 2

adjective

ˌfȯr-ə-ˈnaft 

1

: lying, running, or acting in the general line of the length of a construction (such as a ship or a house) : longitudinal

2

: having no square sails

fore and aft

2 of 2

adverb

1

: lengthwise of a ship : from stem to stern

2

: in, at, or toward both the bow and stern

3

: in or at the front and back or the beginning and end

Examples of fore-and-aft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The second row seats slide fore-and-aft, allowing for easy adjustment based on third-row legroom needs. —Karl Brauer, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Those Magic Slide seats in the second-row are far more comfortable than the Pacifica's Stow-and-Go second-row seats, and the Honda's chairs can move both side-to-side and fore-and-aft, allowing for multiple configurations that keep the peace when sibling rivalries escalate. —Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 22 Aug. 2023

Adverb

There were fore and aft decks, a couple of bedrooms, a bathroom, a galley kitchen, and the heady promise of being captain of my own boat. —Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025

The rear seat slides fore and aft and reclines for comfort. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fore-and-aft

• antiaircraft
• choreographed
• chromatographed
• mimeographed
• abaft
• aircraft
• camshaft
• crankshaft
• downdraft
• engraft
• priestcraft
• redraft

Kids Definition

fore-and-aft

adjective

ˌfōr-ə-ˈnaft,

ˌfȯr-

1

: lying, running, or acting along the length of a structure (as of a ship)

fore-and-aft sails

2

: having no square sails