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

Performing an inoculation on this scale had never been done before. —John Laycock, Baltimore Sun, 27 Dec. 2024

Flu shots can help prevent kids from getting sick, but the inoculations appear to be getting swept up in a broader wave of vaccine skepticism that took hold during the pandemic. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024

In 1998, a British doctor published research suggesting autism was caused by childhood vaccines, specifically the inoculation against mumps, measles and rubella. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024

For this reason, the agency encourages adults 27 and older to talk to their doctor before getting the inoculation. —Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 6 Dec. 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