post-exposure

adjective

post-ex·​po·​sure ˌpōst-ik-ˈspō-zhər How to pronounce post-exposure (audio)
variants or less commonly postexposure
: occurring after exposure to something (such as a pathogen)
post-exposure antiretroviral medications
post-exposure surveillance

Examples of post-exposure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Treatment after exposure to rabies, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), consists of four to five rabies vaccine that must be administered as soon as possible. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Rabies, which is a nervous system disease that is nearly always fatal, can be prevented post-exposure with proper response. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026 Importantly, the peak THC concentration among study participants, taken by blood tests at two and five hours post-exposure, were near or below the common thresholds for laws against intoxicated driving. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Post-exposure treatment, called post-exposure prophylaxis, includes wound care, administering human rabies immune globulin, and a series of vaccines. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for post-exposure

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of post-exposure was in 1906

Rhymes for post-exposure

See All Rhymes for post-exposure

Browse Nearby Words

postexperience
post-exposure
post-exposure prophylaxis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Post-exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post-exposure. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

post-exposure

adjective
post-ex·​po·​sure -ik-ˈspō-zhər How to pronounce post-exposure (audio)
variants also postexposure
: occurring after exposure (as to a virus)
post-exposure vaccination
post-exposure adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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