vaccinia

American

[vak-sin-ee-uh] / vækˈsɪn i ə /

noun

a variant of the cowpox virus that became established in vaccines derived from cowpox-inoculated humans.
Pathology. an acute infection caused by inoculation with vaccinia virus as a prophylactic against smallpox, characterized by localized pustular eruptions.

vaccinia British

/ vækˈsɪnɪə /

noun

a technical name for cowpox

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

vaccinial adjective

Etymology

Origin of vaccinia

From New Latin, dating back to 1800–10; vaccine, -ia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Made by Bavarian Nordic, it contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus used in the smallpox vaccine.

From Science Magazine

This vaccine is also based on vaccinia virus, however the version of the vaccinia virus in the ACAM2000 vaccine is able to replicate in a person’s cells.

From Scientific American

The Jynneos vaccine is given in two doses four weeks apart and contains a live vaccinia virus.

From Salon

One, named ACAM2000, is a modern version of the age-old smallpox vaccine, made from unmodified vaccinia virus, that helped eradicate that disease from humans, a feat WHO celebrated as complete in 1980.

From Science Magazine

Yet the vast majority of existing smallpox vaccines consist still replicating vaccinia.

From Science Magazine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023