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aftermath

noun
af·​ter·​math | \ -ˌmath How to pronounce aftermath (audio) \

Definition of aftermath

1 : a second-growth crop

— called also rowen

2 : consequence, result stricken with guilt as an aftermath of the accident
3 : the period immediately following a usually ruinous event in the aftermath of the war
Synonyms & Antonyms Breaking Down Aftermath More Example Sentences Learn More about aftermath

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Breaking Down Aftermath

Aftermath dates to the late 1400s and was originally an agricultural term. Its two parts are transparent—but only if you're familiar with an ancient word math that is now used only in British dialectal English and that means "a mowing of a grass or hay crop" and also refers to the crop that is gathered. The original aftermath came, of course, after the math: it was historically the crop of (usually) grass cut, grazed, or plowed under after the first crop of the season from the same soil. It wasn't until the mid-late 1600s that aftermath developed its other meanings, both of which are now far more common than the first.

Examples of aftermath in a Sentence

the surgery was successful, but she now had to deal with its aftermath: a huge bill

Recent Examples on the Web

 In the aftermath of the deaths, people whispered and wondered and prayed and wept. — Zoe Greenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "‘We don’t know the answer’: A community is stunned after BU student is killed," 31 Aug. 2019 Another person suffered a seizure in the aftermath of the shooting. — Ashley Remkus | [email protected], al, "Leaders promise enhanced security after mass shooting at Mobile football game," 31 Aug. 2019 Evans and Price both resigned in the aftermath of an ethics probe into Evans. — Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, "Bowser taps ex-DMV director to replace Corbett Price on Metro board," 31 Aug. 2019 In the aftermath of the 2010 disaster, Sukup customer Ken DeYoung flew to Haiti in his private plane to deliver medical supplies and evacuate residents. — Josh Verges, Twin Cities, "At the Fair, see how an Iowa company turns grain bins into disaster housing," 30 Aug. 2019 The couple lost most of their property in the aftermath of the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-22. — Roberta Smith, New York Times, "Takis, Sculptor Who Made Art From Moving Parts, Dies at 93," 30 Aug. 2019 In the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, support for the Scottish National Party, which is currently in power in Scotland and advocates Scottish independence, rose. — Billy Perrigo, Time, "Why the Resignation of a Key Scottish Leader Is a Sign the U.K. Could Break Apart Over Brexit," 29 Aug. 2019 The Taliban have continued to use the Emirate name to reinforce their view that their old regime is the legitimate government of Afghanistan, and not the one that succeeded it after the U.S. invasion of 2001 in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. — NBC News, "Proposed U.S. deal with Taliban uses name of insurgency's former 'emirate'," 28 Aug. 2019 Real estate in the area has boomed following a surge in rebuilding in the aftermath of a 2011 wildfire. — Shelly Hagan And Wei Lu, chicagotribune.com, "These are the best places to own a vacation home in the US," 27 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aftermath.' 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 aftermath

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for aftermath

after- + math "mowing," going back to Middle English *math, going back to a short-vowel variant (perhaps of Germanic date) of Old English mÇŁĂŸ, going back to Germanic *mÄ“ĂŸa- (whence Old Saxon mād- —in māddag "mowing day"—, Old High German āmād "aftermath"), derivative with the nominal suffix *-to- from the base of *mēan- "to mow entry 2"

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More Definitions for aftermath

aftermath

noun
How to pronounce aftermath (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of aftermath

: the period of time after a bad and usually destructive event

See the full definition for aftermath in the English Language Learners Dictionary

aftermath

noun
af·​ter·​math | \ ˈaf-tər-ˌmath How to pronounce aftermath (audio) \

Kids Definition of aftermath

1 : a result or consequence She felt tired as an aftermath of the long race.
2 : the period of time following a bad and usually destructive event the aftermath of a hurricane

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More from Merriam-Webster on aftermath

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with aftermath

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for aftermath

Spanish Central: Translation of aftermath

Nglish: Translation of aftermath for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of aftermath for Arabic Speakers

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