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

This loss hurts & in hindsight; Mendoza would have started Garrett in the 8th. —Tim Britton, New York Times, 18 June 2025

What came after was no surprise in hindsight — instead of pursuing a career in law and politics, Isabella Espinosa saved her lunch money to buy bikini materials and began building what seemed like an impossible dream. —Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

For readers under 40, GeoCities was once the world’s most popular web hosting service, giving users a free platform to create numerous, often cringeworthy (in hindsight) websites, with what's now a distinct retro aesthetic. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 14 June 2025

In hindsight, her son's interest in the piece should have been expected. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

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