# afterthought

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæft.ɚ.θɔt/ · frequency rank #33,501

## Definitions
1. A reflection after an act; a later or subsequent thought, action, or expedient.
2. Something additional to the original plan or concept.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep(o)teros
Proto-Germanic *after
Old English æfter
Middle English after
English after
▲
Old English æfter
Old English æfter-
Middle English after-
English after-
Proto-Indo-European *teng-der.
Proto-Germanic *þankijaną
Proto-Germanic *þanhtaz
Proto-West Germanic *þą̄ht
Old English þōht
Middle English thought
English thought
English afterthought
From after- + thought, probably modelled on forethought. Compare also the verb afterthink.

## Common misspellings (19)
`afetrthought`, `affterthought`, `afterhtought`, `afterrthought`, `afterthhought`, `afterthoguht`, `afterthougght`, `afterthoughht`, `afterthoughtt`, `afterthougth`, `afterthouhgt`, `afterthuoght`, `aftertohught`, `aftertthought`, `aftetrhought`, `aftrethought`, `aftterthought`, `atferthought`, `faterthought`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/afterthought