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inoculate
[ ih-nok-yuh-leyt ]
verb (used with object)
- to implant (a disease agent or antigen) in a person, animal, or plant to produce a disease for study or to stimulate disease resistance.
- to affect or treat (a person, animal, or plant) in this manner.
- to introduce (microorganisms) into surroundings suited to their growth, as a culture medium.
- to imbue (a person), as with ideas.
Synonyms: infuse, indoctrinate
- Metallurgy. to treat (molten metal) chemically to strengthen the microstructure.
verb (used without object)
- to perform inoculation.
inoculate
/ ɪˈnɒkjʊˌleɪt /
verb
- to introduce (the causative agent of a disease) into the body of (a person or animal), in order to induce immunity
- tr to introduce (microorganisms, esp bacteria) into (a culture medium)
- 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·ocu·lator noun
- nonin·ocu·lative adjective
- rein·ocu·late verb reinoculated reinoculating
- self-in·ocu·lated adjective
- unin·ocu·lated adjective
- unin·ocu·lative adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of inoculate1
Word History and Origins
Origin of inoculate1
Example Sentences
Emphasizing “Japan-ness” also inoculated Mr. Isozaki against accusations that an internationalized Japanese architect had surrendered his cultural identity to the West, becoming foreign in his own country.
While the 1970 cutoff date reduces the risk of acquiring a stolen object, it does not inoculate museums from claims.
In contrast to the prevailing methods in California, Mr. Jensen used the ambient yeast on the grapes for fermentation rather than inoculating the grapes with commercial yeast.
Their work in indie films enabled us to view their range to inoculate them from being locked into comedies forever, even if comedy is where their hearts may be as performers and producers.
Mrs. Niven at one point tells Jane that she was lucky to have been “comprehensively bereaved” at a young age, as if that would inoculate her against further loss.
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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.
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