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
Different dinos dedicated different amounts of time and attention to their eggs throughout the incubation period, which took anywhere from three to six months.
—
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2023
The incubation period for the disease is anywhere from 2 days to three weeks, according to the WHO.
—Staff and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2023
The incubation period does not affect the severity and contagiousness of your symptoms.
—Ashley Abramson, Health, 25 Aug. 2023
The most common stage for new funds was early stage given that the long incubation period for companies shields them from some of the impact of poor market conditions.
—Lucy Brewster, Fortune, 3 May 2023
After an incubation period of about a year, the larvae grow into noodle-like worms up to 3 feet long that wrap around tendons, ligaments and connective tissue.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2023
The incubation period from exposure to symptoms is short -- one to two days.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
The time of the incubation period may last weeks to months, and can vary depending on the location of the exposure site on the body, the type of rabies virus and any existing immunity.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 28 July 2023
Depending on which variant you've been infected with, COVID's incubation period can range from two to 14 days after exposure; RSV has an incubation period of four to eight days.56 Trying to diagnose yourself based off of symptoms and symptom onset alone, however, isn’t fool-proof.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 18 Feb. 2023
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Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2023
The incubation period for the disease is anywhere from 2 days to three weeks, according to the WHO.
—Staff and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2023
The incubation period does not affect the severity and contagiousness of your symptoms.
—Ashley Abramson, Health, 25 Aug. 2023
The most common stage for new funds was early stage given that the long incubation period for companies shields them from some of the impact of poor market conditions.
—Lucy Brewster, Fortune, 3 May 2023
After an incubation period of about a year, the larvae grow into noodle-like worms up to 3 feet long that wrap around tendons, ligaments and connective tissue.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2023
The incubation period from exposure to symptoms is short -- one to two days.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
The time of the incubation period may last weeks to months, and can vary depending on the location of the exposure site on the body, the type of rabies virus and any existing immunity.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 28 July 2023
Depending on which variant you've been infected with, COVID's incubation period can range from two to 14 days after exposure; RSV has an incubation period of four to eight days.56 Trying to diagnose yourself based off of symptoms and symptom onset alone, however, isn’t fool-proof.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 18 Feb. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incubation period.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of incubation period was
in 1879
Dictionary Entries Near incubation period
Cite this Entry
“Incubation period.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incubation%20period. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
incubation period
noun1
: 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
Your Health & FitnessQuarantines worked to control the SARS epidemic because SARS is much less contagious than flu and has a longer incubation period.—Christine Gorman, Time
Christine Gorman, Time
More from Merriam-Webster on incubation period
Britannica English: Translation of incubation period for Arabic Speakers
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