morning-after pill

noun

morn·​ing-af·​ter pill ˌmȯr-niŋ-ˈaf-tər- How to pronounce morning-after pill (audio)
variants or less commonly morning after pill
plural morning-after pills also morning after pills
: an oral drug usually containing high doses of estrogen that is taken up to usually three days after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure to prevent or delay ovulation
The FDA-approved morning-after pill can reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or failure of another contraceptive method like a condom, and is ideally taken within 72 hours. The pill … works by delaying ovulation or preventing implantation and cannot terminate a pregnancy.Parija Kavilanz
compare emergency contraception

Examples of morning-after pill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drafting recommendations for using it as a kind of morning-after pill for preventing STDs, said Dr. Leandro Mena, director of the agency’s STD prevention division. Mike Stobbe, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Apr. 2023 The morning-after pill, vasectomies and tubal ligations are HSA eligible. Martha C. White, wsj.com, 7 Dec. 2023 Fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization, pregnancy tests and the morning-after pill are qualified HSA expenses. Martha C. White, wsj.com, 7 Dec. 2023 As student advocates across the country increasingly call for easily accessible morning-after pills on their campuses, some have turned to a new source: vending machines. Itzel Luna, USA TODAY, 22 July 2023 For All are working to remove the stigma and shame frequently associated with the morning-after pill. Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 16 Nov. 2023 Student advocates attributed the cost of the morning-after pill as a barrier to access. Itzel Luna, USA TODAY, 22 July 2023 It’s stocked with ibuprofen, pregnancy tests and the morning-after pill, according to The Associated Press. Ruth Serven Smith | Rserven@al.com, al, 2 July 2023 No, because morning-after pills are considered emergency contraceptives, not medications to terminate pregnancies. Perry Stein, Amber Phillips and David Ovalle, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'morning-after pill.' 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

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of morning-after pill was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near morning-after pill

Cite this Entry

“Morning-after pill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morning-after%20pill. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

morning-after pill

noun
morn·​ing-af·​ter pill ˌmȯr-niŋ-ˈaf-tər- How to pronounce morning-after pill (audio)
variants also morning after pill
: an oral drug typically containing high doses of estrogen that is taken up to usually three days after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure to prevent or delay ovulation compare emergency contraception

More from Merriam-Webster on morning-after pill

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