'afterwork' originates from the combination of 'after' and 'work', where 'after' meant 'following in time' and 'work' meant 'activity involving mental or physical effort'.

'afterwork' evolved from the combination of the Old English words 'æfter' and 'weorc', eventually becoming the modern English word 'afterwork'.

Initially, it meant 'activities following work', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.