1 aftereffect | Definition of aftereffect

aftereffect

noun
af·​ter·​ef·​fect | \ ˈaf-tÉ™r-É™-ËŒfekt How to pronounce aftereffect (audio) \

Definition of aftereffect

: an effect that follows its cause after an interval

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Examples of aftereffect in a Sentence

in the U.S. slavery was abolished in 1865, but its aftereffects remained keenly felt long afterwards

Recent Examples on the Web

Most studies tend to focus on mortality or habitat loss — the immediate aftereffects. Alex Harris, sun-sentinel.com, "Hurricanes may spin a more aggressive population of spiders, new study shows," 21 Aug. 2019 But when a letter is received announcing the imminent arrival of King George V and Queen Mary (grandparents of the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II), the household—still dealing with the aftereffects of the Great War—is thrown into a panic. Jason Bell; Fashion Editor: Cassie Anderson, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Cast of Downton Abbey Reverses Their Signature Roles," 20 Aug. 2019 These consequences are more business outcomes than legal aftereffects but are nonetheless impactful in terms of revenue and prestige. SI.com, "Why Private Golf Clubs Are Legally Still Able to Discriminate Against Women," 1 July 2019 In 2009, Bengi Melton and colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine reported in Academic Psychiatry that just shy of one in five psychiatry chief residents felt prepared to face the aftereffects of a patient suicide. Zheala Qayyum, Scientific American, "Where do Psychiatrists go When a Patient Dies?," 30 July 2019 And that was when the aftereffects of the 2008 crash and the recession were still very much in evidence. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Trump’s plan to throw 3 million people off food stamps shows his cruelty to the poor," 23 July 2019 Space explorers have the Moon’s unique environment to thank for this dusty aftereffect. Loren Grush, The Verge, "High-speed lunar dust could cloud the future of human missions to the Moon," 17 July 2019 Why some reevaluations of public figures that seem long overdue only happen after the release of a film about them — the aftereffects of the 2018 Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly is a good example — is nearly impossible to trace to one cause. Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "A changing America finally demands that the Central Park Five prosecutors face consequences," 8 July 2019 Was this feeling of renewal an intrinsic aftereffect of panic? Lisa Wells, Harper's magazine, "Nightmares at 20,000 Feet," 10 Apr. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aftereffect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of aftereffect

1656, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for aftereffect

after- + effect entry 1

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More Definitions for aftereffect

aftereffect

noun

English Language Learners Definition of aftereffect

: an effect that occurs after time has passed

aftereffect

noun
af·​ter·​ef·​fect | \ ˈaf-tÉ™r-É™-ËŒfekt How to pronounce aftereffect (audio) \

Kids Definition of aftereffect

: an effect that follows its cause after some time has passed A bad headache is the only aftereffect of my accident.

aftereffect

noun
af·​ter·​ef·​fect | \ ˈaf-tÉ™-ri-ËŒfekt How to pronounce aftereffect (audio) \

Medical Definition of aftereffect

1 : an effect that follows its cause after an interval the aftereffects of surgery
2 : a secondary result especially in the action of a drug coming on after the subsidence of the first effect

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