Main Entry: post·op·er·a·tive

Pronunciation: \ˌpōst-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv, -pə-ˌrā-\

Function: adjective

Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary

Date: circa 1890

1 : following a surgical operation <postoperative care>
2 : having recently undergone a surgical operation <a postoperative patient>

— post·op·er·a·tive·ly adverb