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noun Uncommon

vaccination

vak-sih-NAY-shuhn

Vaccination (noun) means the act of giving a vaccine to protect someone from a disease; also the injection itself. Example: “The nurse gave him his flu vaccination in less than a minute.”

noun
1
The act of giving a vaccine to protect someone from a disease; also the injection itself.
"The nurse gave him his flu vaccination in less than a minute."
"Vaccination programs have wiped out smallpox worldwide."

How to use vaccination

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe process (or the actual shot) of being given a vaccine.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
vaccination programme vaccination against childhood vaccination

Word forms

vaccinations plural

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The nurse gave him his flu _____ in less than a minute.

Etymology

Coined from "vaccinia" (cowpox), from Latin vacca ("cow"). The physician Edward Jenner introduced the term in 1798 after using cowpox material to protect people from smallpox.

Origin: Latin · First attested 1798

Class of 1798 vaccination joined the language around 1798.
See the full Class of 1798 →

Related words

Rhymes for vaccination

See all rhymes for vaccination →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vaccination” mean?

The word “vaccination” means the act of giving a vaccine to protect someone from a disease; also the injection itself. In plain terms, the process (or the actual shot) of being given a vaccine.

How do you pronounce “vaccination”?

“Vaccination” is pronounced vak-sih-NAY-shuhn (/ˌvæk.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “vaccination” in a sentence?

Here is “vaccination” used in a sentence: “The nurse gave him his flu vaccination in less than a minute.”

What part of speech is “vaccination”?

“Vaccination” is a noun.

Where does the word “vaccination” come from?

The word “vaccination” dates back to around 1798 and comes from Latin. Coined from "vaccinia" (cowpox), from Latin vacca ("cow"). The physician Edward Jenner introduced the term in 1798 after using cowpox material to protect people from smallpox.

Is “vaccination” a common word?

“Vaccination” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between vaccination and immunization?

Vaccination refers specifically to the act of administering a vaccine, or the injection itself. Immunization is the broader outcome, describing the process by which a person becomes protected against a disease, whether through vaccination or natural exposure. All vaccinations aim to produce immunization, but immunization can occur without vaccination.

What is the difference between vaccination and inoculation?

Vaccination and inoculation are often used interchangeably to describe giving someone a vaccine to protect against disease. Historically, inoculation referred more broadly to introducing a substance into the body to provoke an immune response, while vaccination specifically refers to using a vaccine for this purpose.

Is vaccination used for both the process and the injection itself?

Yes, vaccination can refer to the overall act of giving a vaccine to protect someone from disease, as well as the specific injection or dose administered, depending on context.

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