vaccinate

verb

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt 

vaccinated; vaccinating

transitive verb

: to administer a vaccine to usually by injection

intransitive verb

: to perform or practice vaccination

vaccinator

ˈvak-sə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

Examples of vaccinate in a Sentence

We vaccinate all the animals that come to our shelter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year at this time, 53.7% of children were vaccinated against flu. —Martina Ibáñez-Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025

In Gaines County, just 82% of kindergartners were vaccinated last year, according to state data. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2025

Like the other three teens who have died after a flu infection during the 2024-2025 season, the youth was not vaccinated. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

Among children, 11% had been vaccinated against flu in December, down from 14% at the same time two years previously, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Meg Tirrell, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "to inoculate with fluid from a cowpox pustule," back-formation from vaccination; in later extended sense, in part borrowed from French vacciner, verbal derivative of vaccin vaccine

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

vaccinate

verb

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt 

vaccinated; vaccinating

: to give a vaccine to usually by injection

vaccinator

-ˌnāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

vaccinate

1 of 2 verb

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt 

vaccinated; vaccinating

transitive verb

1

: to inoculate (a person) with cowpox virus in order to produce immunity to smallpox

2

: to administer a vaccine to usually by injection

intransitive verb

: to perform or practice vaccination

vaccinate

2 of 2 noun

vac·​ci·​nate ˈvak-sə-ˌnāt  -nət 

: a vaccinated individual