# aftermath

/ˈæftɝˌmæθ/ (US) · /ˈɑːftəmˌæθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aftermath
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. consequences of a disaster

noun · CEFR B2

the situation that exists after a big event, especially a bad one like a war, accident, or storm.

For teachers: the period immediately following a catastrophic event and the resulting social or physical effects. Uncountable in most contexts.

- Many people were left without homes in the aftermath of the flood.
- In the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis, the government introduced several emergency measures to prevent a total collapse of the banking sector.

### 2. a second harvest

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a second crop of grass that grows in the same season after the first harvest.

For teachers: a second mowing of grass; the crop that grows after the first hay harvest of the season.

- The farmer hoped for a good aftermath to feed his cattle through the winter.
- The late summer rains ensured a lush aftermath, providing the livestock with ample grazing land before the first frost arrived.

Usage: This is the original literal meaning of the word, though it is now rarely used outside of historical or agricultural contexts.

## Examples

- The city began to rebuild in the aftermath of the storm.
- In the aftermath of the financial crisis, the government introduced several new laws to regulate the banks.
- The political aftermath of the revolution proved far more chaotic than the uprising itself, as various factions struggled to fill the power vacuum left by the old regime.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.