English Meaning & Definitions
To treat a person or animal with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease.
- “The public health department began to inoculate citizens against the seasonal flu.”
- “Many countries require travelers to be inoculated against yellow fever before entry.”
To introduce a microorganism or substance into a culture medium or a living organism.
- “The lab technician had to inoculate the petri dish with the bacterial sample.”
- “Scientists inoculate the soil with specific fungi to study plant growth patterns.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “inoculate”.
Derived from the Latin 'inoculatus', the past participle of 'inoculare', meaning 'to graft'. It is composed of 'in-' (into) and 'oculus' (eye/bud). Originally, it referred to the horticultural practice of grafting a bud from one plant onto another, later evolving in the 18th century to describe the medical practice of introducing a pathogen into the body to induce immunity.
Think of 'in-oculus' (in the eye/bud): just as a gardener puts a bud into a plant to help it grow, a doctor puts a vaccine into a person to help them grow immune.
Frequently Asked Questions About “inoculate”
1. What is the meaning of “inoculate” in English?
In English, inoculate (verb) is defined as: “To treat a person or animal with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease.”.
2. How do you use “inoculate” in a sentence?
“The public health department began to inoculate citizens against the seasonal flu.”
3. What are English synonyms of “inoculate”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “inoculate”?
Derived from the Latin 'inoculatus', the past participle of 'inoculare', meaning 'to graft'. It is composed of 'in-' (into) and 'oculus' (eye/bud). Originally, it referred to the horticultural practice of grafting a bud from one plant onto another, later evolving in the 18th century to describe the medical practice of introducing a pathogen into the body to induce immunity.
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