immunodeficiency

American  

[im-yuh-noh-di-fish-uhn-see, ih-myoo-] / ˌɪm yə noʊ dɪˈfɪʃ ən si, ɪˌmyu- /

noun

immunodeficiencies plural

1. impairment of the immune response, predisposing to infection and certain malignancies.

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immunodeficiency British  

/ ˌimjʊnəʊdɪˈfɪʃənsɪ /

noun

1. a deficiency in or breakdown of a person's immune system

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immunodeficiency Scientific  

/ ĭm′yə-nō-dĭ-fĭsh′ən-sē,ĭ-myo̅o̅′- /

1. The inability to produce a normal immune response, caused by an acquired or inherited disease.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• immunodeficient
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• immunodeficiencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of immunodeficiency

First recorded in 1970–75; immuno- + deficiency

Explanation

When someone's body can't protect itself from infection the way it should, they suffer from an immunodeficiency. Many patients being treated for cancer have immunodeficiencies. Your immune system is the network of cells that works to fight infection throughout your body, and when it isn't functioning well, the result is immunodeficiency. The word is rooted in the Latin immunis, "exempt," and deficere, "to fail." In other words, immunodeficiency is a failure of the system that keeps you free from infections and illness. Various diseases, genetic conditions, and medications can result in this risky situation.

Example Sentences

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the immunodeficiency is the weakening of the immune system by the virus.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2021

Aids - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - is the result of damage to the immune system caused by HIV.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2019

Travis was born with Common Variable Immunodeficiency, a disorder that leaves his body unable to defend against bacteria and viruses.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2019

Immunodeficiency can allow pathogens or tumor cells to gain a foothold and replicate or proliferate to high enough levels so that the immune system becomes overwhelmed.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but you know it as “bubble baby disease.”

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon