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 health system has increased emphasis on pre- and postoperative care—as have Lobdell's teams at Atrium Health.
—
Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Still, the results of this latest JAMA Network Open study, as well as others, are prompting experts to dig into why postoperative outcomes are different depending on when people get surgery.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 3 Apr. 2025
The bariatric surgery diet gradually introduces new foods and textures as the digestive system heals, supporting weight loss and reducing the risk of postoperative complications.
—Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025
Parts of the skull (and sometimes most of it) need to be removed, a lengthy and harrowing procedure that could expose the brain to infection and almost always results in significant postoperative pain.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2014
See All Example Sentences for postoperative
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Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Still, the results of this latest JAMA Network Open study, as well as others, are prompting experts to dig into why postoperative outcomes are different depending on when people get surgery.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 3 Apr. 2025
The bariatric surgery diet gradually introduces new foods and textures as the digestive system heals, supporting weight loss and reducing the risk of postoperative complications.
—Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025
Parts of the skull (and sometimes most of it) need to be removed, a lengthy and harrowing procedure that could expose the brain to infection and almost always results in significant postoperative pain.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Dec. 2014
See All Example Sentences for postoperative
Cite this Entry
“Postoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postoperative. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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