postdoctoral

adjective

post·​doc·​tor·​al ˌpōs(t)-ˈdäk-t(ə-)rəl How to pronounce postdoctoral (audio)
ˈpōst-ˌdäk-
variants or less commonly postdoctorate
ˌpōs(t)-ˈdäk-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce postdoctoral (audio)
ˈpōst-ˌdäk-
: being beyond the doctoral level:
a
: of or relating to advanced academic or professional work beyond a doctor's degree
a postdoctoral fellowship
b
: engaged in such work
postdoctoral scholars

Examples of postdoctoral 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.
The system was developed by Ahmad Vaselbehagh, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, and postdoctoral research associate Ty Hagan. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026 Previously a Caltech postdoctoral scholar, Hall is now an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. — New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2026 Depending on the discipline and level of education, ZipRecruiter said research assistants or postdoctoral researchers with an astrobiologist degree typically earn between $50,000 and $70,000 annually. — Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Simon, a onetime postdoctoral fellow at Caltech, pointed to connections between public restrooms and civil rights, the farm labor movement — then and now — and trans debates. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for postdoctoral

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of postdoctoral was in 1929

Rhymes for postdoctoral

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Browse Nearby Words

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postdoctoral
postdrug
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Cite this Entry

“Postdoctoral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postdoctoral. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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