after the fact

UK/ˌɑːftə ðə ˈfækt/US/ˌæftɚ ðə ˈfækt/

prepositional phrase

After the occurrence of some action or event, such as a crime or the formation of a contract.

“You made the commitment, and you can't change the terms after the fact.”

Similar
post factumpost hoc
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Meanings

prepositional phrase

alternative ATF

  1. lawAfter the occurrence of some action or event, such as a crime or the formation of a contract.

    Synonyms: post factum

  2. Too late; after something is finished or final.

    You made the commitment, and you can't change the terms after the fact.

    Synonyms: post hoc

Synonyms & antonyms

prepositional phraseAfter the occurrence of some action or event, such as a crime or the formation of a contract.

Similar
post factum

prepositional phraseToo late; after something is finished or final.

Similar
post hoc

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 事後 /事后
  • 事後 /事后 (shìhòu)too late
Finnish jälkikäteen
  • jälkikäteentoo late
French après coup
  • après couptoo late
German im Nachhinein, nachträglich
  • im Nachhineintoo late
  • nachträglichtoo late
  • hinterhertoo late
Korean 뒷북
  • 뒷북 (dwitbuk)too late
Polish po fakcie
  • po fakcietoo late
Romanian după aceea
  • după aceeatoo late
Spanish a toro pasado
  • a toro pasadotoo late
Cite this entry
APA

after the fact. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/after%20the%20fact

MLA

“after the fact.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/after%20the%20fact. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “after the fact,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/after%20the%20fact.

Source: after the fact on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.