Quick answer
Hereinafter means that a term or name will be used from this point forward in the same document. In plain English, it means “from now on in this text.”
Word page
Hereinafter Meaning
Hereinafter is legal shorthand for “later in this document.” It is useful when a contract defines a name once and then uses the shorter name for the rest of the text.
At a glance
Bureaucratic and Academic AbsurditiesPompous and Grandiloquent WordsSpeech, Noise, and Verbal Nonsense
How to say it
Pronunciation tip: keep the main stress on the capitalized syllable in heer-in-AF-ter.
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, hereinafter points forward inside a document. If a contract says “Acme Ltd., hereinafter called the Company,” it means the document will use “the Company” later to refer to Acme Ltd.
Tone, context, and nuance
Hereinafter is precise but very legalistic. It belongs in contracts and formal documents, not ordinary emails or friendly explanations.
Example sentences
- Simple: Acme Ltd., hereinafter called “the Company,” agrees to the terms.
- Everyday: A simpler version is: “From now on, we’ll call Acme Ltd. the Company.”
- Legal: The contractor, hereinafter referred to as the Supplier, must deliver the goods.
- Nuance: Hereinafter points forward in the document, not forward in time generally.
- Awkward: “Hereinafter, I will eat lunch.” Better: “From now on, I will eat lunch earlier.”
Common mistakes
| Common mistake | Better guidance |
|---|---|
| Using it for ordinary time | Hereinafter refers to later in a text; henceforth is better for from now on in time. |
| Using it in casual writing | It sounds legalistic and heavy outside documents. |
| Forgetting the defined term | Hereinafter usually needs a name or label that will appear later. |
| Confusing it with herein | Herein means in this document; hereinafter means later in this document. |
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference or nuance |
|---|---|
| hereafter | Can mean after this point in time or later in a document. |
| henceforth | Means from now on, usually in time rather than document structure. |
| later in this document | Plain-English substitute. |
| referred to as | Often clearer when defining a term. |
| aforementioned | Points backward to something already mentioned. |
Opposite words
hereinbefore, previously, above, earlier in this document, aforementioned
Word family
Hereinafter belongs to a family of formal here-words, including herein, hereafter, hereby, and heretofore.
Word origin
Hereinafter combines here, in, and after. Its structure reflects legal English’s habit of building compact reference words from simple parts.
Writing tip
Use hereinafter only when defining terms inside a formal document. For public-facing writing, spell out the reference instead.
Common questions
- What does hereinafter mean in simple words? Hereinafter means later in this document or from this point forward in the text.
- How do you pronounce hereinafter? Hereinafter is pronounced heer-in-AF-ter.
- Is hereinafter a legal word? Yes. It is especially common in contracts and legal documents.
- What is a simpler word for hereinafter? Use later in this document, below, or referred to as.
- What is the difference between hereinafter and henceforth? Hereinafter points forward in a document; henceforth means from now on in time.
- Should I use hereinafter in plain English? Usually not. It is precise but heavy, so define the term directly when possible.
Want to learn more about Hereinafter?
You can also look up hereinafter on these trusted language resources:
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.