Word
postoperative
Phoneticspost·op·er·a·tive, stress on the second syllable
/ˌpoʊˈstɔpəɹətɪv/
Definition
adj. happening or done after a person has had surgery. It describes the time and care that follows the operation.
adj. relating to or occurring after a surgical operation. Typically used in medical contexts to describe the recovery period or specific care requirements.
Examples
“The patient is in the postoperative care unit.”
“The doctor explained that postoperative swelling is normal and should subside within a few days.”
“Strict postoperative protocols are essential to prevent infection and ensure that the patient's body heals correctly following such an invasive procedure.”
Examples
simple
“The patient is in the postoperative care unit.”
contextual
“The doctor explained that postoperative swelling is normal and should subside within a few days.”
complex
“Strict postoperative protocols are essential to prevent infection and ensure that the patient's body heals correctly following such an invasive procedure.”
Real-World Examples
“The material could contribute, in the future, to the development of devices for the local treatment of pain associated with breastfeeding and postoperative recovery following breast cancer surgery.” “They received slightly more fentanyl during surgery and experienced more postoperative nausea as well.” Etymology
From post- + operative.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/postoperative