vaccine
vak-SEEN
Vaccine (noun) means a substance given to the body to trigger immunity against a disease, usually made from a weakened or inactive form of the germ that causes it. Example: “The nurse explained that the vaccine would help protect children from the illness.”
noun
1
A substance given to the body to trigger immunity against a disease, usually made from a weakened or inactive form of the germ that causes it.
"The nurse explained that the vaccine would help protect children from the illness."
"Scientists developed a new vaccine in record time."
"She got the vaccine before traveling to a high-risk region."
2
A computer program that detects and removes viruses or other malware; an antivirus.
"Our office laptops run a vaccine that scans every download for malware."
"Update your vaccine regularly, or it will miss the latest viruses."
"His old antivirus vaccine failed to catch the new ransomware."
How to use vaccine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (usually a shot) that trains the body to fight off a specific disease.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
get a vaccine
vaccine against
vaccine dose
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Word forms
- Plural
- vaccines
- Third person singular
- vaccines
- Past tense
- vaccined
Fill the gap
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The nurse explained that the _____ would help protect children from the illness.
Etymology
From Latin vaccinus, "of a cow," from vacca ("cow"). Edward Jenner coined the related Latin term variolae vaccinae ("cowpox") in the late 1700s, after using cowpox material to protect people against smallpox.
Class of 1700
vaccine joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for vaccine
See all rhymes for vaccine →Frequently asked questions
What does “vaccine” mean?
The word “vaccine” means a substance given to the body to trigger immunity against a disease, usually made from a weakened or inactive form of the germ that causes it. In plain terms, something (usually a shot) that trains the body to fight off a specific disease.
How do you pronounce “vaccine”?
“Vaccine” is pronounced vak-SEEN (/vækˈsin/ in IPA).
How do you use “vaccine” in a sentence?
Here is “vaccine” used in a sentence: “Scientists developed a new vaccine in record time.”
What part of speech is “vaccine”?
“Vaccine” is a noun.
Where does the word “vaccine” come from?
The word “vaccine” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Latin. From Latin vaccinus, "of a cow," from vacca ("cow"). Edward Jenner coined the related Latin term variolae vaccinae ("cowpox") in the late 1700s, after using cowpox material to protect people against smallpox.
Is “vaccine” a common word?
“Vaccine” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “vaccine” have?
“Vaccine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance given to the body to trigger immunity against a disease, usually made from a weakened or inactive form of the germ that causes it.
What is the difference between vaccine and vaccination?
A vaccine is the substance itself — typically made from a weakened or inactive form of a germ — while vaccination is the act of giving that substance to a person or animal. So you receive a vaccine during a vaccination.
What is the difference between a vaccine and an antidote?
A vaccine is given before illness to trigger the body's immunity against a disease, whereas an antidote is given after exposure to counteract a poison or toxin. One prevents; the other treats.
Is it "vaccine for" or "vaccine against"?
Both are standard: you can say a vaccine against measles or a vaccine for measles. "Against" slightly emphasises protection from the disease and is common in formal or medical writing, while "for" is frequent in everyday speech.
What is a vaccine in computing?
In computing, a vaccine is a program that detects and removes viruses or other malware — what most people now call antivirus software. The usage borrows the medical image of protecting a system against infection.
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