The prefix [post-] has its origin as a Latin adverb meaning "after". There are two variations in the use of this Latin adverb. The first is in its use as "after" referring to the position of a structure. This use is limited and is the root for the term "posterior". The most common usage is for [post-] to be used in its true meaning of "after" referring to time.

Applications of this prefix include:

• postoperative: after the operation
• postmortem: from the Latin word [mortis] meaning "death". After death
• postpartum: from the Latin word [partum] meaning "birth". After birth
• postprandial: [prandium] is a Latin word meaning "a midday meal". Used to denote "after a meal"
• posthumous: from the Latin word [humus] meaning "ground". Refers to activities performed after burial
• postbellum: after a war

When using pure Latin terms, the word can be used as shown in the listing above, or they can be used as separate entities, such as "post partum", "post mortem", "post bellum", etc. (no hyphens). This leads to interesting facts, such as the pharmacological abbreviation "p.c." which stands for "post cibum"; the meaning of [cibum] is similar to [prandium], so "p.c." means "after a meal"