Updated: 2017-12-07.
As a directional term on any ship/vessel, aft means towards the rear of the craft (usually a ship), lengthwise, such as the towards the stern of a ship or the tail of a plane. Opposite of fore.
The preposition for “aft” is “abaft.”
There is a difference between “aft” and “stern,” though: “aft” refers to the inside portion of the rearmost part of the vessel, while stern refers to the outside.
See also: port, starboard, fore.
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