Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

incubation-period

noun

/ˈɪŋkjʊˌbeɪʃən ˈpɪriəd/

Definition

The time between infection with a pathogen and the appearance of symptoms of the disease.

Examples

The incubation period for the flu is usually one to four days.
During the incubation period of chickenpox, the infected person may not exhibit any symptoms.
Understanding the incubation period can help in controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

Meaning

In the context of infectious diseases, the incubation period refers to the interval during which the pathogen is present in the body but has not yet produced noticeable symptoms.