Definition, synonyms and related words
The market for further goods and services, such as replacement parts and accessories, subsequent to the sale of a product such as an automobile or computer.
"The car enthusiast spent his savings on aftermarket tires that offered better grip than the original factory wheels."
In plain English: The aftermarket is where you buy replacement parts for things that are already made and sold by other companies.
"The car shop specializes in installing aftermarket parts like performance exhausts and custom wheels."
Usage: Use "aftermarket" primarily when referring to third-party components sold separately from the original manufacturer's supply chain. Avoid using it interchangeably with terms like "secondary market," which typically denotes used goods rather than new replacement parts.
To sell goods or services in the aftermarket.
"The company decided to focus its sales team on selling replacement parts and repair services directly to customers through the aftermarket."
In plain English: To aftermarket something means to modify it with parts not made by the original manufacturer.
"The car dealership refused to aftermarket their engine with cheap parts from an unknown supplier."
The word combines the prefix after- with market to describe goods or services sold following a product's initial release. It entered English as a straightforward compound phrase without an original meaning shift from its current usage.