vaccinate

verb

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt 

vaccinated; vaccinating

transitive verb

: to administer a vaccine to usually by injection

intransitive verb

: to perform or practice vaccination

vaccinator

ˈvak-sə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

Examples of vaccinate in a Sentence

We vaccinate all the animals that come to our shelter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Being vaccinated against diseases helps build a community of immunity and protects those more vulnerable to disease who may not be able to get vaccinated. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 1 May 2025

In 1991, 81% said government should require parents to have their children vaccinated against measles. —Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Parents could no longer reliably count on herd immunity to keep newborns too young to vaccinate safe from the disease. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Apple rejected Sexton’s request, concluding the actor playing Johnson had to be vaccinated to keep the workplace safe. —Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "to inoculate with fluid from a cowpox pustule," back-formation from vaccination; in later extended sense, in part borrowed from French vacciner, verbal derivative of vaccin vaccine

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

vaccinate

verb

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt 

vaccinated; vaccinating

: to give a vaccine to usually by injection

vaccinator

-ˌnāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

vaccinate

1 of 2 verb

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt 

vaccinated; vaccinating

transitive verb

1

: to inoculate (a person) with cowpox virus in order to produce immunity to smallpox

2

: to administer a vaccine to usually by injection

intransitive verb

: to perform or practice vaccination

vaccinate

2 of 2 noun

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt  -nət 

: a vaccinated individual