inoculation

Noun

inoculation (countable and uncountable, plural inoculations)

1. The introduction of an antigenic substance or vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.
   • We owe, also, to Lady Mary the introduction of inoculation—the moral courage she displayed; the blessing conferred by her exertions may well silence the harsh judgment which suits so little with our narrow and finite intelligence.1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The End”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 326
2. The introduction of a microorganism into a culture medium.
3. The insertion of the buds of one plant into another; grafting.
4. An inoculum; that which is inoculated.
5. Synonym of prebunking.

   Synonyms:

   prebunking

6. (broadly) Any technique to reduce harm by exposing oneself to a milder form of that harm.
   • Practitioners might similarly employ stress inoculation strategies wherein clients visualize binegative situations—such as being subtly invalidated […]2019, John E. Pachankis, Steven A. Safren, Handbook of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Sexual and Gender Minorities, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 157