morning-after pill

noun

morn·​ing-af·​ter pill ˌmȯr-niŋ-ˈaf-tər- 

variants or less commonly morning after pill

plural morning-after pills also morning after pills

: an oral drug usually containing high doses of estrogen that is taken up to usually three days after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure to prevent or delay ovulation

The FDA-approved morning-after pill can reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or failure of another contraceptive method like a condom, and is ideally taken within 72 hours. The pill … works by delaying ovulation or preventing implantation and cannot terminate a pregnancy.

—Parija Kavilanz

compare emergency contraception

Examples of morning-after pill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a dangerous trend that has swept across social media, people are assuming a small pill found inside the test is the morning-after pill, also known as Plan B One-Step. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

Ella may also be more effective than other morning-after pills in people with a BMI above 26, which includes most American women over the age of 20. —Patrick Adams, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025

The company launched a morning-after pill called Cadence OTC at half the price of Plan B, targeting pharmacy deserts—areas with limited access to pharmacies. —Geri Stengel, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

And competitor Winx Health reportedly saw sales of its morning-after pill increase 315% the day after the election (compared with the 24 hours before the election). —Erin Brodwin, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

morning-after pill

noun

morn·​ing-af·​ter pill ˌmȯr-niŋ-ˈaf-tər- 

variants also morning after pill

: an oral drug typically containing high doses of estrogen that is taken up to usually three days after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure to prevent or delay ovulation compare emergency contraception