inoculate

[ ih-nok-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing.

1. to implant (a disease agent or antigen) in a person, animal, or plant to produce a disease for study or to stimulate disease resistance.
2. to affect or treat (a person, animal, or plant) in this manner.
3. to introduce (microorganisms) into surroundings suited to their growth, as a culture medium.
4. to imbue (a person), as with ideas.

   Synonyms: infuse, indoctrinate

5. Metallurgy. to treat (molten metal) chemically to strengthen the microstructure.

verb (used without object)

, in·oc·u·lat·ed, in·oc·u·lat·ing.

1. to perform inoculation.

inoculate

/ ɪˈnɒkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to introduce (the causative agent of a disease) into the body of (a person or animal), in order to induce immunity
2. tr to introduce (microorganisms, esp bacteria) into (a culture medium)
3. tr to cause to be influenced or imbued, as with ideas or opinions

Derived Forms

• inˌocuˈlation, noun
• inˈoculative, adjective
• inˈocuˌlator, noun

Other Words From

• in·oc·u·la·tive [ih-, nok, -y, uh, -ley-tiv, -y, uh, -l, uh, -], adjective
• in·ocu·lator noun
• nonin·ocu·lative adjective
• rein·ocu·late verb reinoculated reinoculating
• self-in·ocu·lated adjective
• unin·ocu·lated adjective
• unin·ocu·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inoculate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin inoculātus, past participle of inoculāre “to graft by budding, implant,” equivalent to in- “in” + -oculā- (stem of -oculāre “to graft,” derivative of oculus “eye, bud”) + -tus past participle suffix; in- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of inoculate¹

C15: from Latin inoculāre to implant, from in- ² + oculus eye, bud

Example Sentences

As a result, many communities avoid getting inoculated.

From BBC

“She is trying to inoculate against these attacks by running on the most conservative border security position of a Democrat probably ever.”

From Los Angeles Times

It wasn’t until a week after he’d been inoculated that the advice was changed to recommend that people under 30 should not be given the AZ vaccine if an alternative was available.

From BBC

“If she can inoculate against this and have a legitimate strategy on this, her chances of winning are very good. If she doesn’t, her chances of losing are very good.”

From Los Angeles Times

Most were among people who had not been inoculated.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inject
• vaccinate

Inoculate Vs. Vaccinate Vs. Immunize

What’s the difference between inoculate, vaccinate, and immunize?

In the context of medicine, inoculate, vaccinate, and immunize are often used in overlapping ways, and for good reason—they all involve introducing a substance (especially a vaccine) into a person’s body with the goal of preventing them from getting a particular disease.

Vaccinate is the most specific of the three terms, because it always involves introducing a vaccine, which usually consists of a small amount of a killed, weakened, or otherwise modified version of a disease (such as a virus or bacterium). While inoculate has other meanings outside the context of medicine, in modern healthcare it’s typically used interchangeably with vaccinate (though it’s used less commonly).

Immunize is slightly different—it means to provide immunity from a specific disease. While the goal of vaccinating someone is often to immunize them, not all vaccines provide permanent immunity. Some vaccines provide what amounts to long-term immunity, while others only lead to a temporary protection, after which the body “forgets” how to make certain antibodies. In these cases, a booster shot or dose is often required, consisting of a follow-up vaccination to boost or renew the protection gained from the earlier vaccination.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between inoculate, vaccinate, and immunize.

Quiz yourself on inoculate vs. vaccinate vs. immunize!

True or False?

Inoculate, vaccinate, and immunize can be correctly used in some overlapping ways.