incubator
n. countablen. a machine that keeps things warm and safe so they can grow, like a baby or a chick. It can also mean a place that helps new businesses start and succeed.
n. an apparatus used to maintain environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, for the development of neonates or microbiological cultures. In a commercial context, it refers to an organisation that provides support and resources to early-stage startups.
The hospital placed the premature baby in an incubator.
The university's business incubator provides young entrepreneurs with office space and expert mentorship to launch their companies.
By providing seed capital and networking opportunities, the tech incubator significantly reduces the failure rate of fledgling software firms during their first critical year of operation.
From incubate + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in medical, biological, and business contexts to describe a supportive environment for growth.
Last updated May 8, 2026