1. A construction technique in which steel cables or tendons are tensioned after concrete has been poured and hardened, used to strengthen concrete structures.
Usage: technical; civil engineering

Examples

• The bridge was built using posttensioning to increase its load-bearing capacity.
• Posttensioning allows engineers to create longer spans with thinner concrete members.
• The contractor applied posttensioning to the parking garage deck after the concrete cured.
• Modern high-rise buildings often rely on posttensioning for structural efficiency.
• Posttensioning reduces the amount of concrete needed compared to traditional reinforcement methods.