aftermarket

noun

af·​ter·​mar·​ket ˈaf-tər-ˌmär-kət How to pronounce aftermarket (audio)
plural aftermarkets
1
: the market for parts and accessories used in the repair or enhancement of a product (such as an automobile)
2
: a secondary market (see market entry 1 sense 4c(1)) available after sales in the original market are finished
a movie in the DVD aftermarket
3
: the market for a stock following its initial public offering when its shares can be freely traded among investors

Examples of aftermarket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's particularly important because aerospace suppliers generate a significant portion of their profits from aftermarket services and maintenance — business that tends to slow when airlines fly fewer miles. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 11 July 2026 That’s when the true cat-and-mouse game between OEM security and the aftermarket began. — Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026 The aftermarket items are pressed onto the plate in the appropriate configuration. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 The memo also addressed aftermarket auto parts and would supersede the ability of the California Air Resources Board to evaluate parts that affect vehicle emissions. — Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for aftermarket

Word History

Etymology

after- + market entry 1

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of aftermarket was in 1887

Rhymes for aftermarket

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Browse Nearby Words

afterlight
aftermarket
aftermast
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Cite this Entry

“Aftermarket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aftermarket. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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