inoculate

verb

in·​oc·​u·​late i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlāt 

inoculated; inoculating

transitive verb

1

a

: to introduce immunologically active material (such as an antibody or antigen) into especially in order to treat or prevent a disease

inoculate children against diphtheria

b

: to introduce a microorganism into

inoculate mice with anthrax

beans inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

c

: to introduce (something, such as a microorganism) into a suitable situation for growth

2

: to protect as if by inoculation

3

: to introduce something into the mind of

inoculative

i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

inoculator

i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

If you think you see a connection between inoculate and ocular ("of or relating to the eye"), you are not mistaken—both words look back to oculus, the Latin word for "eye." But what does the eye have to do with inoculation? Our answer lies in the original use of inoculate in Middle English: "to insert a bud in a plant for propagation." Latin oculus was sometimes applied to things that were seen to resemble eyes, and one such thing was the bud of a plant. Inoculate was later applied to other forms of engrafting or implanting, including the introduction of vaccines as a preventative against disease.

Synonyms

• endue
• indue
• imbue
• inculcate
• infuse
• ingrain
• engrain
• invest
• steep
• suffuse

Choose the Right Synonym for inoculate

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout.

infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

Examples of inoculate in a Sentence

inoculated them with the idea that the individual can always make a difference in this world

Recent Examples on the Web

An Ars Technica subscription, if applied topically on a daily basis, should inoculate against dumb Facebook memes and other vectors for brainworm infection. —Ars Staff, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025

People can also become infected by touching infected secretions, and then inoculating themselves by touching their nose, mouth, or eyes with contaminated hands. —Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

This does not, however, inoculate them against the unpleasantness that will follow the discovery of their change of heart, which is why starting from the beginning is often preferable. —Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025

Anti-vaxxers aren’t born; they’re inoculated against their wills. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to insert a bud in a plant, from Latin inoculatus, past participle of inoculare, from in- + oculus eye, bud — more at eye

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for inoculate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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Kids Definition

inoculate

verb

in·​oc·​u·​late in-ˈäk-yə-ˌlāt 

inoculated; inoculating

1

: to introduce a microscopic living thing into

beans inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

2

: to introduce material (as a vaccine) into the body especially by injection to protect against or treat a disease

inoculate children against the measles

inoculator

-ˌlāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

inoculate

verb

in·​oc·​u·​late in-ˈäk-yə-ˌlāt 

inoculated; inoculating

transitive verb

1

: to communicate a disease to (an organism) by inserting its causative agent into the body

12 mice inoculated with anthrax

2

a

: to introduce microorganisms or viruses onto or into (an organism, substrate, or culture medium)

inoculated a rat with bacteria

b

: to introduce (as a microorganism or antiserum) into an organism or onto a culture medium

inoculate a pure culture of bacteria into a healthy host

3

: to introduce immunologically active material (as an antibody or antigen) into especially in order to treat or prevent a disease

inoculate children against diphtheria

intransitive verb

: to introduce microorganisms, vaccines, or sera by inoculation