afterthought
UK: ˈɑːftəθɔːt | US: ˈæftərθɔːt
n. an idea or reflection that occurs after the main thought or decision
n. something added or considered later, often as an aftereffect
The word "afterthought" is a transparent compound formed by combining "after" (from Old English æfter, meaning "later in time") and "thought" (from Old English þōht, meaning "mental process or idea"). It emerged in the 17th century to describe an idea that arises belatedly, reflecting the logical sequence of "after" + "thought." The structure preserves the original spelling and meaning of both morphemes, making it easy to decode for learners.
The apology seemed like an afterthought rather than a sincere gesture.
She added the decorations as an afterthought to the party planning.
His comment was clearly an afterthought, unrelated to the main discussion.
The clause in the contract felt like a legal afterthought.
The epilogue was written as an afterthought to address readers' questions.