post hoc

[pohst hohk, pohst hok] / ˈpoʊst ˈhoʊk, ˈpoʊst ˈhɒk /

ADVERB

afterward

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afterwards eventually late later next soon then thereafter

STRONG

after subsequently

WEAK

another time behind ensuingly intra latterly thereon ultimately

Antonyms

STRONGEST

earlier

WEAK

beforehand previously

ADVERB

afterward/afterwards

Synonyms

WEAK

a while later after another time at a later time behind by and by ensuingly eventually in a while intra late later latterly next on the next day soon subsequently then thereafter thereon ultimately

Antonyms

WEAK

beforehand

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An agency’s justifications for its actions can’t be post hoc or pretextual.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

Mr. Buruma resists glib post hoc censure, acknowledging that German civilians “lived in constant fear of their own government.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Indeed, it was only after Wickstrom directly raised his illegal termination with Bosco that Bosco attempted an investigation to come up with a post hoc justification for Wickstrom’s termination.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2025

Another security factor could come from improving post hoc detectors that look for inadvertent artifacts of AI generation.

From Scientific American • Aug. 8, 2023

You might never guess this, however, from the neat post hoc analyses that follow each market’s close.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

post hoc

Example Sentences

Related Words