noun
aftermath
AHF-tuh-math
noun
1
The period or situation that results from a significant, usually damaging, event.
"In the aftermath of the storm, thousands were left without power."
"The company struggled to recover in the aftermath of the scandal."
How to Use Aftermath
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe messy or difficult period right after something bad has happened.
Memory tip
Almost always used with "in the aftermath of," followed by the event.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
in the aftermath of
the aftermath of war
deal with the aftermath
Word Forms
aftermaths plural
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In the _____ of the storm, thousands were left without power.
Etymology
From "after" + an old word "math," meaning a mowing — the aftermath was originally the second cutting of grass that grows back after the first hay harvest.