post-exposure
adjective
post-ex·po·sure
ˌpōst-ik-ˈspō-zhər 
variants
or less commonly postexposure
: occurring after exposure to something (such as a pathogen)
post-exposure antiretroviral medications
post-exposure surveillance
Examples of post-exposure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People exposed to measles who cannot document immunity against the virus should get post-exposure prophylaxis — a dose of the vaccine to potentially provide protection within 72 hours of initial exposure, or immunoglobulin within six days of exposure.
—
Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals such as raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes, which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
The brand is intentionally tackling the sun care category with a focus on post-exposure and therefore, not launching its own SPF.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
This method of receiving antibiotics after exposure, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, can help reduce their chance of contracting pertussis.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
The key elements of a successful outbreak response for measles include case identification and investigation, isolating cases and quarantining those with possible exposure, and supporting vaccination, as well as post-exposure prophylaxis, Masters said.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
These results support continued use of oseltamivir as the first-line treatment and for post-exposure prophylaxis in close contacts of infected individuals.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Most emergency departments have post-exposure treatment available.
—Carma Hassan, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
Health officials said post-exposure treatment may be available for people who do not have immunity if the exposure occurred March 15 or March 17.
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
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Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals such as raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes, which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
The brand is intentionally tackling the sun care category with a focus on post-exposure and therefore, not launching its own SPF.
—Emily Burns, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
This method of receiving antibiotics after exposure, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, can help reduce their chance of contracting pertussis.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
The key elements of a successful outbreak response for measles include case identification and investigation, isolating cases and quarantining those with possible exposure, and supporting vaccination, as well as post-exposure prophylaxis, Masters said.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
These results support continued use of oseltamivir as the first-line treatment and for post-exposure prophylaxis in close contacts of infected individuals.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Most emergency departments have post-exposure treatment available.
—Carma Hassan, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
Health officials said post-exposure treatment may be available for people who do not have immunity if the exposure occurred March 15 or March 17.
—Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Post-exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post-exposure. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
post-exposure
adjective
post-ex·po·sure
-ik-ˈspō-zhər
variants
also postexposure
: occurring after exposure (as to a virus)
post-exposure vaccination
post-exposure
adverb
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