prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɑːftə ðə ˈfækt/
General-American:/ˌæftɚ ðə ˈfækt/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
prep_phrase
Meaning 1
After the occurrence of some action or event, such as a crime or the formation of a contract.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: post factum
Antonyms: none provided
2
prep_phrase
Meaning 2
Too late; after something is finished or final.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
You made the commitment, and you can't change the terms after the fact.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: post hoc
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
14 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
事後 /事后
(shìhòu)
— too late
Finnish:
jälkikäteen
— too late
French:
après coup
— too late
Georgian:
პოსტფაქტუმ
(ṗosṭpakṭum)
— too late
Georgian:
მომხდარი ფაქტის შემდეგ
(momxdari pakṭis šemdeg)
— too late
Georgian:
მომხდარის შემდეგ
(momxdaris šemdeg)
— too late
Georgian:
გაკეთების შემდეგ
(gaḳetebis šemdeg)
— too late