antigen

[ an-ti-juhn ]
See synonyms for antigen on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Immunology. any substance, as a protein, carbohydrate, etc., that, on entering the body, can stimulate an immune response and combine with a specific antibody or T cell receptor having a matching molecular structure.

  2. Pharmacology. any commercial substance, usually synthetic, that stimulates the production of antibodies when injected or absorbed into animal tissues.

  1. antigens of a particular type collectively.

Origin of antigen

1
First recorded in 1905–10; anti(body) + -gen

Other words from antigen

  • an·ti·gen·ic [an-ti-jen-ik], /ˌæn tɪˈdʒɛn ɪk/, adjective
  • an·ti·gen·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • an·ti·ge·nic·i·ty [an-ti-juh-nis-i-tee], /ˌæn tɪ dʒəˈnɪs ɪ ti/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for antigen

antigen

/ (ˈæntɪdʒən, -ˌdʒɛn) /


noun
  1. a substance that stimulates the production of antibodies

Origin of antigen

1
C20: from anti (body) + -gen

Derived forms of antigen

  • antigenic, adjective
  • antigenically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for antigen

antigen

[ ăntĭ-jən ]


  1. A substance that stimulates the production of an antibody when introduced into the body. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. Compare antibody. See Note at blood type.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.