English · Word Candidate

vaccine

/vækˈsin/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: vaccines

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of, pertaining to, caused by, or characteristic of cowpox.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Of or pertaining to cowpox as a source of material for vaccination against smallpox; also, of or pertaining to such material used for vaccination.

Adjective

Examples

I will call upon them: they are healthy children, we can have the vaccine infection from them, and I will inoculate the boy myself.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A substance given to stimulate a body's production of antibodies and provide immunity against a disease without causing the disease itself in the treatment, prepared from the agent that causes the disease (or a derivative of it; or a related, also effective, but safer disease), or a synthetic substitute; also, a dose of such a substance.

Noun

Examples

I am much inclined to the vaccine. My friend, Mr. L—, has had all his children vaccined, and I just wait to see the effect.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

The process of vaccination; immunization, inoculation.

Noun

Examples

My dog has had two vaccines this year.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “vaccine” mean?

Of, pertaining to, caused by, or characteristic of cowpox.

Is “vaccine” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.