inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion i-ˌnä-kyə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process or an instance of inoculating

especially : the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies

2

: inoculum

Examples of inoculation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Low inoculation rates mixed with undernutrition, overcrowding in urban areas and an overwhelmed health care system. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2026

The ash campaign differs from the push to save elm trees because the elm drive is a breeding program rather than an inoculation effort. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Did their better access to health care, as evidenced by their inoculations, better protect them from the disease? — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 Aug. 2026

Malone, who was a vocal critic of vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, did pin some blame on falling trust in the scientific establishment for the slight downtick in inoculations. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inoculation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion in-ˌäk-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or an instance of inoculating

2

: material used in inoculating

Medical Definition

inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion in-ˌäk-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process or an instance of inoculating: as

a

: the introduction of a microorganism into a medium suitable for its growth

b(1)

: the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies

(2)

: the introduction of a vaccine or serum into a living organism to confer immunity

travelers in the tropics should have typhoid inoculations

2

: inoculum