incubation period

noun

: the period between the infection of an individual by a pathogen and the manifestation of the illness or disease it causes

Examples of incubation period in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The policy becomes logical when considering the incubation periods of STDs and how those timelines differ between illnesses. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025

Putting on the brakes and stepping away refills your dwindling reservoir, replenishes your work mojo and provides an incubation period for embryonic work ideas to hatch. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

The incubation period is typically three to 10 days. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 28 Aug. 2024

The incubation period of the virus can be between three and six days, according to the CDC, and the groups at highest risk include young children and adults 65 or older. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

incubation period

noun

1

: the period of brooding or incubating required to bring an egg to hatching

2

: the period between infection with a germ and the appearance of the disease or illness it causes

Medical Definition

incubation period

noun

: the period between the infection of an individual by a pathogen and the manifestation of the disease it causes

Mono, which has an incubation period of 30 to 50 days, characteristically announces itself with headaches, fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, and extreme fatigue.

—Your Health & Fitness

Quarantines worked to control the SARS epidemic because SARS is much less contagious than flu and has a longer incubation period.

—Christine Gorman, Time