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

Five teams out of eight made it through incubation, and more ventures survived, including the bread-to-feed company. — Clyde Eiríkur Hull, The Conversation, 23 July 2026

While widely embraced by the comedy community as an effort to elevate a new generation of comedy stars at a time when comedy talent incubation has been deprioritized, the show has also drummed up huge viewership. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 July 2026

The Moroccan filming facility will also include a training and talent incubation hub, as well as a hotel complex intended to host both national and international production teams. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 July 2026

In a sense that’s true, as rather than continually being reinvested in Destiny, the profits were used for bizarre projects like a sprawling HQ in the COVID era, or herded into too many other incubation projects. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 June 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