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

Powerback argued that the Kansas law interfered with the company’s ability to comply with the federal vaccine mandate that was in effect at the time, which required health care providers receiving Medicare and Medicaid dollars to vaccinate their employees. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025

Dolly is vaccinated, spayed and microchipped and is ready to go home at a moment’s notice. —Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025

But after the UMass Memorial religious exemption committee denied her, Jeune was fired for failing to get vaccinated. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025

Both are fully vaccinated and microchipped and come with complete medical records. —Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 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