incubation

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tion ˌiŋ-kyə-ˈbā-shən 

ˌin-

1

: the act or process of incubating

2

: incubation period

Examples of incubation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Missouri Innovation Center: Fostering High-Growth Startup Success The Missouri Innovation Center is a state-of-the-art business incubation provider located in Columbia, Missouri. —Jon Stojan, USA Today, 1 May 2025

Because measles has a long incubation time, unvaccinated people can reduce their risk of measles by getting a vaccine within 72 hours of exposure, Offit said. —Liz Szabo, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2025

Many other projects were slated for incubation by government funds and price guarantees, and if Carter’s policies had remained in place, perhaps a dozen white-elephant synfuel projects would have been funded. —Michael Lynch, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

After 21 days of incubation, eight of the eggs hatched, delivering a small flock of cute, fluffy chicks. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing incubation

• incubation period

Rhymes for incubation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

incubation

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tion ˌiŋ-kyə-ˈbā-shən 

ˌin-

1

: the act or process of incubating

2

: incubation period

Medical Definition

incubation

noun

in·​cu·​ba·​tion ˌiŋ-kyə-ˈbā-shən, ˌin- 

1

: the act or process of incubating

2

: incubation period

incubational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective