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 best inoculation against misinformation is the truth. —Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Manufacturers need large numbers of infected people to test their inoculations. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024

Producing vaccines—particularly those as technologically complex as the messenger RNA (mRNA) inoculations against COVID-19—requires not only patents but an entire infrastructure that cannot be transferred overnight. —Peter J. Hotez, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2021

The concept of inoculation developed with smallpox outbreaks several centuries ago. —Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2024

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