incubator

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tor ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbā-tər 

ˈin-

: one that incubates: such as

a

: an apparatus by which eggs are hatched artificially

b

: an apparatus with a chamber used to provide controlled environmental conditions especially for the cultivation of microorganisms or the care and protection of premature or sick babies

c

: an organization or place that aids the development of new business ventures especially by providing low-cost commercial space, management assistance, or shared services

Examples of incubator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sierra Commons offers three different incubator programs to help foothills entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

At the Yemeni-Swedish Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Taiz, incubators were full and two or three children were sharing beds in the emergency room, general manager Sami al-Sharabi said. — Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

The land was requisitioned a few years back, and the building was repurposed as the Liangzhu Youth Commune—one of the many incubators that have sprung up across the region. — Afra Wang, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026

The garage has been converted into a medical and isolation ward equipped with incubators, oxygen machines, and supplies for treating wounds and administering fluids. — Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for incubator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

incubator

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tor ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt-ər 

ˈin-

: one that incubates

especially : a piece of equipment providing suitable conditions (as of warmth and moisture) for incubating something

an incubator for premature babies

Medical Definition

incubator

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tor ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt-ər, ˈin- 

: one that incubates

especially : an apparatus with a chamber used to provide controlled environmental conditions especially for the cultivation of microorganisms or the care and protection of premature or sick babies