incubation

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tion ˌiŋ-kyə-ˈbā-shən 

ˌin-

1

: the act or process of incubating

2

: incubation period

Examples of incubation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Proceeds from the latest rights Issue will be used by the company to strengthen its balance sheet and support its incubation activities, the company said in a release on Tuesday. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025

The initiative also combines technology transfer services, incubation centers, and industrialization zones to manage the full lifecycle of scientific and technological advancements. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

Mpox symptoms Mpox symptoms start within 21 days of exposure to the virus with a typical incubation, or symptom-free, period of three to 17 days, according to the CDC and WHO. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025

Such heat shortens the parasite’s incubation time inside mosquitoes, increasing the odds of transmission. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing incubation

• incubation period

Rhymes for incubation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

incubation

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tion ˌiŋ-kyə-ˈbā-shən 

ˌin-

1

: the act or process of incubating

2

: incubation period

Medical Definition

incubation

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tion ˌiŋ-kyə-ˈbā-shən, ˌin- 

1

: the act or process of incubating

2

: incubation period

incubational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective