vaccine

noun

vac·cine | \ vak-ˈsēn

, ˈvak-ˌsēn \

Definition of vaccine

: a preparation that is administered (as by injection) to stimulate the body's immune response against a specific infectious disease:

a : an antigenic preparation of a typically inactivated or attenuated (see attenuated sense 2) pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus) or one of its components or products (such as a protein or toxin)

b : a preparation of genetic material (such as a strand of synthesized messenger RNA) that is used by the cells of the body to produce an antigenic substance (such as a fragment of virus spike protein)

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Examples of vaccine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Will Ohioans still be able to get the vaccine at their pharmacies? — Robert Higgs, cleveland, "Can it be done? Opening mass coronavirus vaccination sites would pose mammoth logistic challenges," 4 Mar. 2021 Find out how to get a vaccine with the Journal’s state-by-state guide. — WSJ, "Covid-19 Live Updates: Reported Daily U.S. Deaths and Cases Rise," 4 Mar. 2021 Health experts have cautioned that Americans should get the vaccine they are offered. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN, "Some US bishops discourage Catholics from getting Johnson & Johnson vaccine if others are available," 3 Mar. 2021 Wednesday is the first day people under 65 can get the vaccine because of various conditions such as heart disease, obesity, cancer and pregnancy with permission of their doctor. — David Fleshler, sun-sentinel.com, "DeSantis: Doctors will decide which people under 65 can get vaccine," 3 Mar. 2021 Also in line on Friday to get the vaccine: U.S. Rep. Robin Shackleford and Indiana Senator Rodric Bray. — Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, "Holcomb said he will 'walk the walk' and get COVID-19 vaccine on Friday," 3 Mar. 2021 Should pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible? — Jenny Mccoy, Glamour, "COVID Vaccine and Pregnancy: Everything You Need to Know," 2 Mar. 2021 While children younger than 16 cannot get a vaccine yet, Gandhi believes enough adults will be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity by September, meaning the virus can’t circulate effectively so younger children won’t be exposed. — Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bay Area parents worry that classrooms won't reopen full time in the fall. When will normal return?," 2 Mar. 2021 District residents with underlying health conditions are now able to get the vaccine, but the city’s registration website locked up repeatedly last week amid a flood of submissions. — Washington Post, "Q&A: Ask The Post about coronavirus cases, vaccines in the greater Washington region," 1 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vaccine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for vaccine

earlier, "fluid from cowpox pustules used in inoculation," noun use of vaccine "of cowpox" (in the phrases vaccine disease, vaccine matter), borrowed from New Latin vaccina (in variolae vaccinae "cowpox"), going back to Latin, feminine of vaccīnus "of or from a cow," from vacca "cow" (perhaps akin to Sanskrit vaśā "cow") + -īnus -ine entry 1; in extended sense, "preparation of organisms administered to produce immunity," in part borrowed from French vaccin, masculine derivative of vaccine "cowpox, matter from cowpox pustules," borrowed from New Latin or English

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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries near vaccine

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Last Updated

6 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaccine. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for vaccine

vaccine

noun

English Language Learners Definition of vaccine

medical : a substance that is usually injected into a person or animal to protect against a particular disease

See the full definition for vaccine in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vaccine

noun

vac·cine | \ vak-ˈsēn

, ˈvak-ˌsēn \

Kids Definition of vaccine

: a preparation containing usually killed or weakened microorganisms (as bacteria or viruses) that is given usually by injection to increase protection against a particular disease

vaccine

noun

vac·cine | \ vak-ˈsēn, ˈvak-ˌ

Medical Definition of vaccine

1 : matter or a preparation containing the virus of cowpox used to vaccinate a person against smallpox

2 : a preparation that is administered (as by injection) to stimulate the body's immune response against a specific infectious disease:

a : an antigenic preparation of a typically inactivated or attenuated pathogenic agent (such as a bacterium or virus) or one of its components or products (such as a protein or toxin)