Phrase guide

after the fact

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
  • German: im Nachhinein — too late
  • German: nachträglich — too late
  • German: hinterher — too late
  • Korean: 뒷북 (dwitbuk) — too late
  • Polish: po fakcie — too late
  • Romanian: după aceea — too late
  • Spanish: a toro pasado — too late