inoculate

/ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt/

//ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"inoculate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“inoculate” is uncommon English (frequency #69,955 among 17,902 “I” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#69,955
frequency rank, English
17,902
“I” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To introduce an antigenic substance or vaccine into something (e.g. the body) or someone, such as to produce immunity to a specific disease.

Key facts for inoculate
PropertyValue
Headwordinoculate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#69,955
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “inoculate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). inoculate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

inoculate is uncommon English at frequency #69,955 among 17,902 “I” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for inoculate, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in c. 1440; inherited from Middle English inoculaten (“to graft”), from Latin inoculātus, perfect passive participle of inoculō (“to ingraft an eye or bud of one plant into (another), implant”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”… The correct English form is inoculate, spelled I-N-O-C-U-L-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To introduce an antigenic substance or vaccine into something (e.g. the body) or someone, such as to produce immunity to a specific disease.
  2. 2
    To safeguard or protect something as if by inoculation.
  3. 3
    To add one substance to another.
  4. 4
    To graft by inserting buds.
  5. 5
    To introduce into the mind (used especially of harmful ideas or principles).

Etymology

First attested in c. 1440; inherited from Middle English inoculaten (“to graft”), from Latin inoculātus, perfect passive participle of inoculō (“to ingraft an eye or bud of one plant into (another), implant”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from in- (“in”) + oculus (“an eye”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

This word in other languages

inoculer(Français)impfen(Deutsch)inocular(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "inoculate"?
"inoculate" is spelled I-N-O-C-U-L-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt/.
What does "inoculate" mean?
As a verb, "inoculate" means: To introduce an antigenic substance or vaccine into something (e.g. the body) or someone, such as to produce immunity to a specific disease.
How do you pronounce "inoculate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "inoculate" is /ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "inoculate"?
First attested in c. 1440; inherited from Middle English inoculaten (“to graft”), from Latin inoculātus, perfect passive participle of inoculō (“to ingraft an eye or bud of one plant into (another), implant”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “inoculate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-O-C-U-L-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈnɒkjuleɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list