posthumous
POS-chuh-muhs
/ˈpɒstjʊməs/
Occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator.
Commonly used for awards, book publications, or the birth of a child after the father's death.
The story behind the word. Originally from the Latin 'postumus,' meaning 'last.' However, it was altered by a folk etymology that thought it came from 'post' (after) and 'humus' (ground/burial), leading to the modern spelling and meaning.
Word relationships
- prenatal: Occurring before birth (the opposite end of the life spectrum).
Commonly confused with
- post-mortem: A post-mortem is a medical examination of a body; posthumous describes events or honors occurring after death.
Word family
- posthumously (adverb): In a posthumous manner.
Collocations
- posthumous award
- posthumous fame
- published posthumously
Example sentences
- "The soldier was given a posthumous award for his bravery in the field." An award ceremony.
- "Many of Emily Dickinson's poems were published posthumously by her sister." Literature.
Memory hook
Think of 'Post-Humus'—after someone is in the 'humus' (soil/ground). After the end.
When not to use
Don't use it for things that happen while the person is still alive but just 'old'.
Fun facts
- Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his role as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight'.
Explore more words
postoperative, forthcoming, posterity, contemporary, subsequent, postscript
Also appears in
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