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Definition of posthumous

posthumous

/ˈpɑːs.tʃə.məs/
post · hu · mous
Adverb:posthumously
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posthumous Lexical Profile

posthumous Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator or recipient.

Example

"The novelist received a posthumous literary prize for her unfinished manuscript."

2

Born after the death of the father, or delivered by surgical means immediately after the death of the mother.

Example

"As a posthumous child, he grew up hearing stories of a father he had never met."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

posthole
postholiday
postholocaust
posthumous
posthumously
postie
posting

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin posthumus, an alteration of Classical Latin postumus ('last, latest, born after the father's death'), the superlative of posterus ('coming after'). The unetymological 'h' was inserted by folk association with Latin humus ('earth, ground'), as if meaning 'after burial'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Posthumous. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/posthumous
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