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

Such inoculations may also help reduce the enormous inequities in vaccine access revealed by the pandemic. —Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024

A number of studies provide encouraging results that inoculation–and other psychological tools in development–can keep people from falling for fake news. —Alex Knapp, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

The inoculation, called iNCOVACC, uses a harmless simian adenovirus to carry the spike protein into the airway. —Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024

Although recent efforts have focused on inoculations against SARS-CoV-2, nasal vaccines could also protect us against the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and more. —Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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