Etymologically
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aforementioned

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 31 October 2026 at 08:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • UK: /əˈfɔːˌmɛn.ʃənd/, /ˈæfəˌmɛn.ʃənd/[1]
  • US: /əˈfɔɹˌmɛn.ʃənd/, /ˈæfəɹˌmɛn.ʃənd/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English afore- + mentioned,[2][3] that is, afore and the past participle of mention.[4][5][6] The OED compares the earlier aforesaid and aforenamed, and the earlier before-mentioned and above-mentioned.[2] Etymonline notes that afore-written is recorded from the mid-15th century and aforenamed from about 1600.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Mentioned earlier, especially in a text: 1539, in a royal proclamation on the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.[2] Merriam-Webster also dates it to 1539,[3] while Etymonline and Dictionary.com date it to the 1580s.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

The adjective has kept its meaning since the 16th century.[2] From 1663 it was also used as a noun with the, for the thing or person just mentioned.[2] Johnson (1755) defined it simply as "mentioned before", with a quotation from Addison.[6] Collins labels it as used mainly in legal documents and usually placed before the noun.[7]

Timeline

  • 1539 – adjective, mentioned before.[2][3]
  • 1663 – noun, the aforementioned, the person or thing just mentioned.[2]
  • 1755 – Johnson defines it as "mentioned before".[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Mentioned or named earlier, especially in a document; aforesaid: the aforementioned witnesses.[7][3][2]

Noun

  1. the aforementioned: the person or thing, or the persons or things, mentioned before.[2]
  • afore
  • mention
  • aforesaid
  • aforenamed
  • before-mentioned
  • above-mentioned

Usage notes

Collins notes that the word is used chiefly in legal documents, and usually before a noun.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  6. ^ a b c Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
  7. ^ a b c Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins