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

And three in five voters are concerned that Americans who want to get vaccinated won’t be able to because of recent policy changes. —Jerome Adams, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026

In light of the recent measles outbreak in the Sacramento area, along with measles spreading in other parts of the United States and the world, state health officials urged Californians to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Monitoring for symptoms is especially critical for people who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, particularly infants under one year of age who are not routinely recommended for the vaccine. —Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

For example, people first making a change, such as getting vaccinated, may also prefer other changes — work tools, behavioral practices, or new representations of identity in dress, transportation modes, or home styles. —Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026

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