morning-after pill

noun

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

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 first morning-after pills, single doses of levonorgestrel, hit convenience store shelves in Texas in March 2024. —Sarah Varney, NBC news, 18 May 2025

If this is removed, the morning-after pill will become significantly more costly for millions of women. —Sophie Clark, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

Ella may also be more effective than other morning-after pills in people with a BMI above 26, which includes most American women over the age of 20. —Patrick Adams, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025

And competitor Winx Health reportedly saw sales of its morning-after pill increase 315% the day after the election (compared with the 24 hours before the election). —Erin Brodwin, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for morning-after pill

• eosinophil
• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill

Medical Definition

morning-after pill

noun

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

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