incubation period

noun

: the period between the infection of an individual by a pathogen and the manifestation of the illness or disease it causes

Examples of incubation period in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The incubation period, or time from exposure to when symptoms of influenza A first appear, is typically one to four days (about two days on average) from exposure to first symptoms. —Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026

This is your incubation period… your chrysalis. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025

The viruses also have different incubation periods, according to the Mayo Clinic. —Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2025

Officials said the incubation period can range from two to 10 days. —Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for incubation period

• myriad
• photoperiod

Kids Definition

incubation period

noun

1

: the period of brooding or incubating required to bring an egg to hatching

2

: the period between infection with a germ and the appearance of the disease or illness it causes

Medical Definition

incubation period

noun

: the period between the infection of an individual by a pathogen and the manifestation of the disease it causes

Mono, which has an incubation period of 30 to 50 days, characteristically announces itself with headaches, fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, and extreme fatigue.

—Your Health & Fitness

Quarantines worked to control the SARS epidemic because SARS is much less contagious than flu and has a longer incubation period.

—Christine Gorman, Time