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

Kansas law required students to be vaccinated, with exemptions for health and religious reasons. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025

Because the shot, which the CDC recommends everyone six months of age or older receive annually, offers the best protection when people get it before the virus begins circulating, now is the time to get vaccinated. —Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025

Rather than paying a recurring license fee, pets that are microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated for rabies are eligible to be permanently licensed for a one-time $25 fee. —Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Oct. 2025

The Centners founded a Miami school, the Centner Academy, where teachers were recommended not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 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