aftertime

/ˈɑːf.tə.taɪm/

//ˈɑːf.tə.taɪm// noun

"aftertime" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“aftertime” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A later time; the future.

Corpus desk

Index EN-aftertime · aftertime · English

aftertime · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "A" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for aftertime
PropertyValue
Headwordaftertime
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɑːf.tə.taɪm/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “aftertime” in English

aftertimesits beyond the 100,000 most-frequent English words, in the long tail of technical, archaic, or otherwise rare vocabulary where spelling doubt tends to strike hardest.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

aftertime is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɑːf.tə.taɪm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for aftertime in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, 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- + time. The correct English form is aftertime, spelled A-F-T-E-R-T-I-M-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A later time; the future.
  2. 2
    The process in which a harmony singer or background singer repeats a line or a series of words in a song separately after the lead singer rather than singing it in unison with the lead singer; prominent in country music and Southern gospel.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how aftertime appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood […]
  2. Toward morning, while the old man sat exhausted and asleep in his chair where he had been sitting before his books as one who watches by his beloved dead and prints the features on his memory for a solace in the aftertime of empty desolation, his daughter sprang into the room and gently woke him, saying-- "My presentiment was true!

Etymology

From after- + time.

Synonyms

hereafterthe future

Antonyms

foretimethe past

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "aftertime"?
"aftertime" is spelled A-F-T-E-R-T-I-M-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɑːf.tə.taɪm/.
What does "aftertime" mean?
As a noun, "aftertime" means: A later time; the future.
How do you pronounce "aftertime"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "aftertime" is /ˈɑːf.tə.taɪm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "aftertime"?
From after- + time. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list