incubation period

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. the period between infection and the appearance of signs of a disease.

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incubation period British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: incubation. med the time between exposure to an infectious disease and the appearance of the first signs or symptoms

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incubation period Cultural  

1. The amount of time it takes for symptoms of a disease to appear after an individual is infected (see infection) with the pathogen that causes the disease.

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Etymology

Origin of incubation period

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

incubation period

According to the agency, the incubation period between exposure and the appearance of symptoms can last weeks or months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

"The incubation period is two to 21 days. A person might develop symptoms later at home, but we'll be able to track them down," Matwa said, optimistically.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Tracing its source poses particular difficulties for two reasons: an incubation period of up to two weeks before symptoms first appear, and lack of a genetic fingerprint, unlike, say, E. coli.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

Upon returning to the UK those registered are subject to health monitoring for 21 days, which is the maximum incubation period for Ebola, to track any signs of illness.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

I wondered what the incubation period was for tetanus or—or for rabies.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler