Aftermath is what remains or happens after a significant, often destructive event has ended. When a tornado tears through a town, the aftermath is the damaged buildings, fallen trees, and cleanup work that follows. After a major argument between friends, the aftermath might be hurt feelings and awkward silences.

Aftermath usually follows serious events rather than everyday occurrences. You wouldn't describe what happens after finishing your homework as an aftermath, but you might describe the aftermath of a schoolwide food fight, a huge snowstorm, or a championship game. The word often appears in news reports about natural disasters, accidents, or conflicts.

Notice that aftermath focuses on consequences and results. After a forest fire, the aftermath includes burned trees and displaced wildlife. After a heated election, the aftermath might involve people working to unite a divided community. The aftermath is the period when everyone deals with the effects of what just happened, picking up the pieces and figuring out what comes next.