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

Thanks to President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, inoculations had begun mid-December 2020. —Mark Zachary Taylor, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025

Benjamin Franklin was not only a political thinker but a scientist and a brave advocate of smallpox inoculation. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025

For this 100 percent Cab Franc wine, the grapes are hand harvested and cold soaked for two days before inoculation with native yeast. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024

In countries that could buy large numbers of doses, case counts fell dramatically as inoculations rose. —Nicole Lurie, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2021

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