inoculate

[ih-nok-yuh-leyt]

verb (used with object)

inoculated, inoculating 

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)

inoculated, inoculating 

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

Other Word Forms

• inoculative adjective
• inoculator noun
• noninoculative adjective
• reinoculate verb
• self-inoculated adjective
• uninoculated adjective
• uninoculative adjective
• inoculation noun

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

Perhaps he hoped calling for caps on out-of-pocket spending would inoculate Pfizer and the industry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Several were from concerned grandparents, worried about their young grandchildren not being inoculated against certain diseases as a result of vaccine scepticism.

Read more on BBC

Her lab partners with educators, pastors and parents to “inoculate” kids against online radicalization and researches pipelines that lead to extreme acts of violence.

Read more on Salon

There is some indication that vaccine providers are taking an expansive view of who can be inoculated, however.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The trees were inoculated with the truffle fungus, which was grown on the roots before they were planted.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• inject 
• vaccinate 

When To Use

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.