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

The incubation period ranges from four to 14 days.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

The virus is contagious only when symptoms appear after an incubation period of two to 21 days.

From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025

And warmer water decreases the incubation period for C. melanura eggs, leading one study to conclude that warmer-than-average water temperatures “increase the probability for amplification of EEE.”

From Salon • Sep. 7, 2024

Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said it’s likely more people will become ill with cryptosporidiosis in coming days or weeks because of a lag in the incubation period.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024

Doctors performed the operation while he was in the incubation period after his exposure to Ebola.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston