imprinting
noun
im·print·ing
ˈim-ˌprin-tiŋ 
im-ˈprin-
: a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (such as a goose) and establishes a behavior pattern (such as recognition of and attraction to its own kind or a substitute)
Examples of imprinting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fundamental viscosity data are reported using a ball penetration technique, and subsequently employed to demonstrate the fabrication of micro-optical devices by thermal imprinting.
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Gairika Mitra, Interesting Engineering, 27 June 2024
The worry is that if people receive annual COVID-19 boosters, like health officials recommend for influenza, immune imprinting could make the population vulnerable when a new coronavirus, or even another similar virus, starts to spread again, the researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
Researchers from Washington University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis evaluated the ability of the COVID-19 shots to build up memory in the immune system through a process called immune imprinting.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
The fear is that this imprinting then undermines efforts to protect an individual against evolved versions of that pathogen — that a vaccine targeting the latest variant of SARS-2 will preferentially boost antibodies to the original version of the virus, which is now long gone.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for imprinting 
Gairika Mitra, Interesting Engineering, 27 June 2024
The worry is that if people receive annual COVID-19 boosters, like health officials recommend for influenza, immune imprinting could make the population vulnerable when a new coronavirus, or even another similar virus, starts to spread again, the researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
Researchers from Washington University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis evaluated the ability of the COVID-19 shots to build up memory in the immune system through a process called immune imprinting.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
The fear is that this imprinting then undermines efforts to protect an individual against evolved versions of that pathogen — that a vaccine targeting the latest variant of SARS-2 will preferentially boost antibodies to the original version of the virus, which is now long gone.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 28 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for imprinting
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'imprinting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Imprinting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imprinting. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imprinting
noun
im·print·ing
ˈim-ˌprint-iŋ
im-ˈprint-
: a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (as a goose) and that results in the formation of a special way of behaving (as knowing and being attracted to one's own kind)
Medical Definition
imprinting
noun
im·print·ing
ˈim-ˌprint-iŋ, im-ˈ
1
: a rapid learning process that takes place early in the life of a social animal (as a greylag goose) and establishes a behavior pattern (as recognition of and attraction to its own kind or a substitute)
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