aftermath
/ˈæf.tɚˌmæθ/
"aftermath" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“aftermath” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,232 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #8,232
- frequency rank, English
- 9
- letters
- 14
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - That which happens after, that which follows, usually of strongly negative connotation in most contexts, implying a preceding catastrophe.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | aftermath |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈæf.tɚˌmæθ/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Frequency rank | #8,232 |
| Misspellings tracked | 14 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “aftermath” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for aftermath is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæf.tɚˌmæθ/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,232 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for aftermath, with forms such as "afetrmath", "afftermath", and "aftemrath". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From after- + math (“a mowing”). The correct English form is aftermath, spelled A-F-T-E-R-M-A-T-H.
Definition
- 1That which happens after, that which follows, usually of strongly negative connotation in most contexts, implying a preceding catastrophe.
- 2A second mowing; the grass which grows after the first crop of hay in the same season.
Etymology
From after- + math (“a mowing”).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: afetrmath,afftermath,aftemrath,afteramth,aftermaht,aftermathh,aftermatth,aftermmath,aftermtah,afterrmath,aftremath,afttermath,atfermath,fatermath
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of aftermath - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "aftermath"?
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Using “aftermath”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is A-F-T-E-R-M-A-T-H - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈæf.tɚˌmæθ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.