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 AstraZeneca began the Phase 3 US trial of its coronavirus vaccine in September. — Naomi Thomas, CNN, "Novavax coronavirus vaccine becomes fifth to begin Phase 3 trials in United States," 28 Dec. 2020 The state’s vaccine allocation committee is taking public comment Monday. — Anchorage Daily News, "Tracking COVID-19 in Alaska: 126 new infections reported Monday, no deaths," 28 Dec. 2020 For more on Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine effort see our earlier feature. — Meredith Wadman, Science | AAAS, "Novavax launches pivotal U.S. trial of dark horse COVID-19 vaccine after manufacturing delays," 28 Dec. 2020 The initiative also includes a mobile flu vaccine van. — Sujata Srinivasan, courant.com, "Flu fighters combat vaccination fears in New Haven," 28 Dec. 2020 The mRNA technique speeds up the vaccine development process. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, "Why isn’t more COVID-19 vaccine available immediately?," 28 Dec. 2020 Or, those who are charged with helping distribute the vaccine may have been working, sans pay. — Fox News, "President Trump signs COVID relief, spending bill averting shutdown. So what happens now?," 28 Dec. 2020 Half of the state’s rural hospitals have not received vaccine shipments. — ExpressNews.com, "Express Briefing: Rural hospitals begging for vaccine," 28 Dec. 2020 Between 60% to 70% of first responders are expected to receive the voluntary coronavirus vaccine, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, "Sandhill cranes, black-footed ferrets, Washington crossing the Delaware: News from around our 50 states," 28 Dec. 2020

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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