Posthumous is used to describe something that happens after a person's death but relates to something they did before they died.
His family and supporters have campaigned for many years for a posthumous pardon.
...the posthumous publication of his first novel.
posthumouslyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
After the war she was posthumously awarded the George Cross.
posthumous in British English
(ˈpɒstjʊməs)
adjective
1.
happening or continuing after one's death
2.
(of a book, etc) published after the author's death
3.
(of a child) born after the father's death
Derived forms
posthumously (ˈposthumously)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Latin postumus the last, but modified as though from Latin post after + humus earth, that is, after the burial
posthumous in American English
(ˈpɑstʃʊməs; ˈpɑstjʊməs)
adjective
1.
born after the father's death
2.
published after the author's death
3.
arising or continuing after one's death
Derived forms
posthumously (ˈposthumously)
adverb
Word origin
LL posthumus, for L postumus, after death, orig., last, superl. of posterus (see posterior): altered in LL by assoc. with humus, ground or humare, to bury (as if meaning “born after the father is buried”)
Examples of 'posthumous' in a sentence
posthumous
This is not the first posthumous volume to appear.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
The posthumous publication of his diaries is awaited with trepidation by some and eager anticipation by those who knew him best.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In his will, he prohibited the posthumous publication of anything he might have missed.
Miller, James The Passion of Michel Foucault (1993)
This second note again leaves the door open for more posthumous publication, and indeed a whole series of other books followed.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
The work remains, thankfully, and his posthumous reputation slowly builds.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He also kept returning to posthumous publication as a way of allowing himself full frankness (and rancour).
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
This may explain why, much faster than usual, there have been a number of posthumous publications in little more than two years.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
In other languages
posthumous
British English: posthumous ADJECTIVE
Posthumous is used to describe something that happens after a person's death but relates to something they did before they died.