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cell-mediated immunity

American  
[sel-mee-dee-ey-tid] / ˈsɛlˌmi diˌeɪ tɪd /

noun

Immunology.

  1. immunity independent of antibody but dependent on the recognition of antigen by T cells and their subsequent destruction of cells bearing the antigen or on the secretion by T cells of lymphokines that enhance the ability of phagocytes to eliminate the antigen.

cell-mediated immunity Scientific  

  1. Immunity resulting from a cell-mediated immune response.

  2. Also called cellular immunity

  3. Compare humoral immunity

Etymology

Origin of cell-mediated immunity

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They develop antibodies against the virus and they also develop cell-mediated immunity — the lymphocytes important to form viral control of pathogens.

From Nature • Aug. 27, 2014

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.