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

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

Van der Linden’s inoculation techniques equip individuals with the tools to recognize and resist manipulation. —C.m. Rubin, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

This will help the researchers reproducibly nail down the optimal mycorrhizal inoculation formula for all future na’u cultivation. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024

Such inoculations may also help reduce the enormous inequities in vaccine access revealed by the pandemic. —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