definitions

inoculation

[ ih-nok-yuh-ley-shuh n ]
/ ɪˌnɒk yəˈleɪ ʃən /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inoculation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of inoculating.
an instance of inoculating.

RELATED WORDS

vaccination, injection, shot, prevention

Nearby words

inobservant, inobtrusive, inoculable, inoculant, inoculate, inoculation, inoculum, inodorous, inoffensive, inofficious, inofficious will

Origin of inoculation

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin inoculātiōn- (stem of inoculātiō) an engrafting. See inoculate, -ion
Related formsnon·in·oc·u·la·tion, nounpost·in·oc·u·la·tion, adjectivere·in·oc·u·la·tion, nounself-in·oc·u·la·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inoculation

Word Origin and History for inoculation

inoculation

n.

mid-15c. in horticulture; 1714 in pathology, from Latin inoculationem (nominative inoculatio) "an engrafting, budding," noun of action from past participle stem of inoculare (see inoculate).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for inoculation

inoculation

[ ĭ-nŏk′yə-lā′shən ]

n.

The act or an instance of inoculating, especially the introduction of an antigenic substance or vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for inoculation

inoculation

[ ĭ-nŏk′yə-lā′shən ]

The introduction of a serum, a vaccine, or an antigenic substance into the body of a person or an animal, especially as a means to produce or boost immunity to a specific disease.
The introduction of a microorganism or an agent of disease into an host organism or a growth medium.
Related formsinoculate verb
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for inoculation

inoculation

[ (i-nok-yuh-lay-shuhn) ]

The introduction of an antigen into the body, usually by injection, in order to stimulate the production of antibodies to produce immunity to an infectious disease. (See immunization.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.