fore-and-aft

1 of 2

adjective

ˌfȯr-ə-ˈnaft 

1

: lying, running, or acting in the general line of the length of a construction (such as a ship or a house) : longitudinal

2

: having no square sails

fore and aft

2 of 2

adverb

1

: lengthwise of a ship : from stem to stern

2

: in, at, or toward both the bow and stern

3

: in or at the front and back or the beginning and end

Examples of fore-and-aft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Those Magic Slide seats in the second-row are far more comfortable than the Pacifica's Stow-and-Go second-row seats, and the Honda's chairs can move both side-to-side and fore-and-aft, allowing for multiple configurations that keep the peace when sibling rivalries escalate. —Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 22 Aug. 2023

This setup provides commendable ride isolation over sharp impacts but results in more fore-and-aft hobby horsing over dips in the road, more body roll, and peculiar behavior in transient maneuvers. —Frank Markus, Car and Driver, 15 July 2023

Adverb

The rear seat slides fore and aft and reclines for comfort. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2024

The fore and aft sections of each deck are staggered by a half-level at the center of circulation amidships. —Bill Springer, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

circa 1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fore-and-aft

adjective

ˌfōr-ə-ˈnaft,

ˌfȯr-

1

: lying, running, or acting along the length of a structure (as of a ship)

fore-and-aft sails

2

: having no square sails