postoperative

adjective

post·​op·​er·​a·​tive ˌpōst-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 

-pə-ˌrā-

1

: following a surgical operation

postoperative care

2

: having recently undergone a surgical operation

a postoperative patient

postoperatively adverb

Examples of postoperative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Giants will have two to three weeks to help manage his postoperative care in San Francisco. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

New consultations, postoperative checks, and urgent add-ons compete for the same time slots. — Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Postmenopausal women experienced more postoperative complications within 30 days after the surgery than premenopausal women, and men and postmenopausal women had higher postoperative bleeding rates. — Crystal Gwizdala, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026

Medical-tourism concierges can arrange everything from virtual consultations and physician vetting to airport transfers, translators, hotel stays, private nurses, lymphatic massages and postoperative appointments. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for postoperative

• inoperative
• preoperative
• operative
• perioperative
• uncooperative

Medical Definition

postoperative

adjective

post·​op·​er·​a·​tive ˈpōst-ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv 

1

: relating to, occurring in, or being the period following a surgical operation

postoperative care

2

: having recently undergone a surgical operation

a postoperative patient

postoperatively adverb