pre-exposure
|pre-ex-po-sure|
🇺🇸
/ˌpriː ɪkˈspoʊʒər/
🇬🇧
/ˌpriː ɪkˈspəʊʒə/
exposure that happens before an event
Etymology
'pre-exposure' is formed from the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae', meaning 'before') combined with 'exposure' (from Latin 'exponere' via Old French 'exposer').
'exposure' comes from Latin 'exponere' ('ex-' meaning 'out' and 'ponere' meaning 'to place'), through Old French 'exposer' into Middle English; the English prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') was later attached to form the compound 'pre-exposure' in modern English.
Initially the components referred literally to 'placing out before' (via 'exponere' and 'prae'), but in modern usage the compound means 'exposure occurring before a specified event or time' (often used in technical/medical contexts).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or instance of being exposed to something beforehand; exposure that occurs before a particular event or time.
The study measured pre-exposure antibody levels in participants.
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Noun 2
in medical/public-health contexts, the period or condition before exposure (often used in compounds such as 'pre-exposure prophylaxis').
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is designed to reduce infection risk before pre-exposure to the virus.
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Last updated: 2025/12/10 19:19