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

The district started a small-business incubation program in March 2022 to fill some of its empty spaces with mixed results. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2026

Indonesia’s 2026 Cannes presence is anchored by Next Step Studio Indonesia, a talent incubation and co-production initiative for young filmmakers backed by the Ministry of Culture, the Jakarta Provincial Government, the Embassy of France in Indonesia, and Institut Français Indonesia. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2026

But several factors might influence the length of incubation. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 13 May 2026

The male typically takes over incubation duties in the day and the female takes the night shift, so both birds are needed to have a successful hatching. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 4 May 2026

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