the time between exposure to an infectious disease and the appearance of the first signs or symptoms
Sometimes shortened to: incubation
incubation period in American English
noun
Pathology
the period between infection and the appearance of signs of a disease
Word origin
[1875–80]This word is first recorded in the period 1875–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: authoritarian, massage, musical chairs, neoclassic, overdraft
Examples of 'incubation period' in a sentence
incubation period
The vaccine strain is relatively weak and there may be a longer incubation period.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The incubation period for the virus can be 21 days.
canada.com (2005)
The longest incubation period we're aware of is 11 years.
The Sun (2012)
The disease then has a three-week incubation period.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The incubation period is three to 14 days after being bitten.
Globe and Mail (2003)
Rabies has an incubation period of two weeks to two years.
The Sun (2010)
More cases are anticipated because the incubation period is several days.