inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion i-ˌnä-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process or an instance of inoculating

especially : the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies

2

: inoculum

Examples of inoculation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The law extended key tax credits that further lower the cost of insurance for millions of Americans, while allowing older Americans to receive the shingles vaccine and other key inoculations free starting this year. —Tony Romm, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Aug. 2023

Van der Linden wanted to build on McGuire’s theories and test the idea of psychological inoculation in the real world. —Grace Browne, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2023

That followed an initial hiccup when use of the vaccine was suspended after dozens of pigs died last summer following inoculations in farms that used the vaccine off-label, USDA said, administering it to hogs that were not supposed to be inoculated, such as pregnant sows. —Reuters, CNN, 7 June 2023

Some Republican state legislators, such as in Wisconsin and Georgia, introduced measures aimed at easing mandates to receive standard inoculations for elementary school students, such as the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, The Post reported. —Anumita Kaur, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023

The doctor, inspired by a vision of the wholesale eradication of smallpox, published treatises to popularize his methods and campaigned to extend smallpox inoculation to the poor. —Lucy Ward, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023

Millions of infants in Africa and Asia receive the inoculation each year. —Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2023

The Biden administration, after months of delay, has now addressed at least a shortfall in funding, hurrying to issue the first major grants from a $5 billion program to expedite a new class of more potent and durable inoculations. —Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 26 June 2023

Catherine used the power of her own example to encourage inoculation across her empire. —Lucy Ward, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion in-ˌäk-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or an instance of inoculating

2

: material used in inoculating

Medical Definition

inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion in-ˌäk-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process or an instance of inoculating: as

a

: the introduction of a microorganism into a medium suitable for its growth

b(1)

: the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies

(2)

: the introduction of a vaccine or serum into a living organism to confer immunity

travelers in the tropics should have typhoid inoculations

2

: inoculum