pre-exposure
adjective
pre-ex·po·sure
ˌprē-ik-ˈspō-zhər 
variants
or less commonly preexposure
: occurring, administered, used, or being in the period preceding exposure (as to a stimulus or a pathogen)
pre-exposure rabies vaccination
Canon has also added a red-eye reduction pre-exposure light …—
Herbert Keppler
see also pre-exposure prophylaxis
Herbert Keppler
pre-exposure
noun
Rats differ from monkeys and chicks in that simultaneous pre-exposure to two stimuli does facilitate their subsequent discrimination …
—R. A. Hinde
R. A. Hinde
Examples of pre-exposure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lewin wrote to Rubio that the number of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who began pre-exposure prophylaxis through PEPFAR more than doubled.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
The event was sponsored by MISTR, a telemedicine platform that provides online access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-term HIV care.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Study data showed a single set of injections every six months can offer virtually complete protection against infection, a form of prevention known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
Gilead Sciences — The biopharmaceutical stock reversed and was recently 5% higher as analysts called out the potential for Yeztugo, a pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.
—Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Black and Latino people have low rates of pre-exposure prophylaxis use compared to their share of new HIV infections nationwide, according to Emory University’s AIDSVu project.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Someone at high risk of being exposed to rabies can get the rabies vaccine as part of what’s called pre-exposure prophylaxis — that is, vaccination before any exposure occurs — to provide protection in case contact with the virus happens later.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Prevention tools like contraception and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) helped protect women’s health.
—Jennifer Lotito, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The case began when a Texas business did not wish to cover HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is recommended by the USPSTF.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 28 July 2025
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Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
The event was sponsored by MISTR, a telemedicine platform that provides online access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and long-term HIV care.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Study data showed a single set of injections every six months can offer virtually complete protection against infection, a form of prevention known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
Gilead Sciences — The biopharmaceutical stock reversed and was recently 5% higher as analysts called out the potential for Yeztugo, a pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.
—Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Black and Latino people have low rates of pre-exposure prophylaxis use compared to their share of new HIV infections nationwide, according to Emory University’s AIDSVu project.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Someone at high risk of being exposed to rabies can get the rabies vaccine as part of what’s called pre-exposure prophylaxis — that is, vaccination before any exposure occurs — to provide protection in case contact with the virus happens later.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Prevention tools like contraception and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) helped protect women’s health.
—Jennifer Lotito, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The case began when a Texas business did not wish to cover HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is recommended by the USPSTF.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pre-exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pre-exposure. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pre-exposure
adjective
pre-ex·po·sure
-ik-ˈspō-zhər
variants
preexposure
: of, relating to, occurring in, or being the period preceding exposure (as to a stimulus or a pathogen)
pre-exposure immunization
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