morning-after pill

noun

morn·​ing-af·​ter pill ˌmȯr-niŋ-ˈaf-tər- 

: an oral drug usually containing high doses of estrogen taken up to usually three days after unprotected sexual intercourse that interferes with pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation or by blocking implantation of a fertilized egg in the human uterus

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

First a condom broke and then, despite using the morning-after pill, a pregnancy test came back positive. —Heather Hollingsworth, Chron, 5 Nov. 2022

Your quick guide to the morning-after pill—straight from experts. —Ashley Abramson, SELF, 10 Feb. 2023

Mifepristone, a two-pill regiment, differs from Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill, which is widely available at Florida pharmacies and considered more of an emergency contraceptive. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2023

Volunteers with EZ EC — founded last year — deliver four to five orders of the morning-after pill per week. —Mattie Kahn, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2022

First a condom broke and then, despite using the morning-after pill, a pregnancy test came back positive. —Heather Hollingsworth, Chron, 5 Nov. 2022

First a condom broke and then, despite using the morning-after pill, a pregnancy test came back positive. —CBS News, 4 Nov. 2022

As with every morning-after pill, Julie has side effects too. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 11 Oct. 2022

To have an even stronger impact on access, Marty feels mifepristone should be available in pharmacies without a prescription (similar to the morning-after pill) given its strong safety record. —Jamie Ducharme, Time, 5 Jan. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

morning-after pill

noun

morn·​ing-af·​ter pill ˌmȯr-niŋ-ˈaf-tər- 

: an oral drug typically containing high doses of estrogen taken up to usually three days after unprotected sexual intercourse that interferes with pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation or by blocking implantation of a fertilized egg in the human uterus