inoculation

noun

in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion i-ˌnä-kyə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce inoculation (audio)
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

Examples of inoculation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nowadays misinformation and fake news pose such a big problem because untrue statements get repeated through retweets, shares, etc. Sunstein: Recognizing the strength of the illusory truth effect can create a degree of inoculation to defend against falsehoods. Jessica Dulong, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 In fact, numerous studies rolled out to millions of people on social media have shown that inoculation in the form of brief informational videos makes people more skilled at identifying manipulation techniques common in misinformation, such as false dilemmas and scapegoating. Stephan Lewandowsky, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2024 That Catherine and Paul underwent the process and survived was a national sensation, and did much to encourage smallpox inoculation efforts among her people. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2024 My greenwash inoculations are needed more than ever with the heavy hand of regulation about to drop on unsubstantiated eco claims. Solitaire Townsend, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 At the time, smallpox was an absolute scourge, and early inoculation efforts against the disease were dangerous to undergo — recipients were at high risk to get very sick or even die from the treatment, compared to today’s safer vaccinations. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 15 Jan. 2024 This personalized inoculation, based on the same mRNA platform as Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, can target up to 34 neoantigens at once. Kenneth Miller, Discover Magazine, 9 Dec. 2023 This absorbing cultural history of vaccines surveys three centuries of controversy, beginning in England in the seventeen-twenties, with the first smallpox inoculation. The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023 But health officials note that vaccines are a major driver of that progress, and continued inoculations — much like a typical flu shot — can help keep the coronavirus confined. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inoculation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inoculation was in 1714

Dictionary Entries Near inoculation

Cite this Entry

“Inoculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inoculation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inoculation

noun
in·​oc·​u·​la·​tion in-ˌäk-yə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce inoculation (audio)
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 How to pronounce inoculation (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on inoculation

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