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

Vaccine skepticism is a fast-spreading virus against which America’s inoculation is flagging. —New York Daily News, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2025

On the subject of vaccines, for instance, there used to be some space between the positions of Kennedy, the nation’s leading figure casting doubt on the safety and benefits of inoculations, and Bhattacharya. —Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025

Kennedy has expressed skepticism over inoculation and is known to traffic in medical misinformation. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025

Academic research published recently has shown that, when individuals develop skepticism toward a single vaccine, those doubts often lead to uncertainty about other inoculations. —Chris Bing and Joel Shectman, USA TODAY, 14 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inoculation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

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