vaccine

vac·cine | \ vak-ˈsēn

How to pronounce vaccine (audio)

, ˈvak-ˌsēn\

Definition of vaccine

: a preparation of killed microorganisms, living attenuated organisms, or living fully virulent organisms that is administered to produce or artificially increase immunity to a particular disease

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Examples of vaccine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Specialists at the center are developing vaccines for swine flu, Ebola, and HIV, TASS reported. — Char Adams, PEOPLE.com, "Explosion Reported at Russian Lab Carrying Dangerous Viruses Like Ebola and Smallpox," 17 Sep. 2019 Scientists at the center are developing vaccines for swine flu, HIV, and Ebola. — Helen Regan, CNN, "Explosion and fire break out at Russian lab known for housing deadly smallpox virus," 17 Sep. 2019 As of Friday afternoon, Rivkees said the state has a plentiful supply of vaccines for the public. — Sara Marino, USA TODAY, "Florida health officials declare public health emergency for hepatitis A," 3 Aug. 2019 The facility has obtained vaccines for detainees and is in the process of administering second doses, according to Piedmont Health District Director Robert Nash. — Lillian Reed, baltimoresun.com, "ICE published an ad looking for interest in building a Baltimore detention facility. Here’s who answered.," 1 Aug. 2019 The mothers surveyed wanted more open schools, sports facilities, and cheaper vaccines for children. — Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "This budget, mothers have high hopes from India’s female finance minister," 1 July 2019 Last month, the Democrats agreed to drop bills on gun control and vaccines for this session in exchange for the Republicans returning to the capitol. — Ian Lovett, WSJ, "Oregon Governor Dispatches Police to Find GOP Legislators," 20 June 2019 Fetal tissue has been used in many types of medical research, including the development of vaccines for polio, measles and other diseases, and therapies to treat Parkinson’s, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and to prevent the transmission of HIV. — Michelle Andrews, Scientific American, "FAQ: How Does New Trump Fetal Policy Impact Medical Research?," 7 June 2019 But research using fetal tissue has led to life-saving advances, including development of vaccines for rubella and rabies and drugs to treat the HIV virus. — Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar And Lauran Neergaard, chicagotribune.com, "Trump ending fetal tissue research by federal scientists," 5 June 2019

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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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

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

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 of killed microorganisms, living attenuated organisms, or living fully virulent organisms that is administered to produce or artificially increase immunity to a particular disease chicken pox vaccine also : a mixture of several such vaccines measles-mumps-rubella vaccine

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WORD OF THE DAY

bruit

to spread as a report or rumor

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