cell-mediated immunity

American

[sel-mee-dee-ay-tid] / ˈsɛlˌmi diˌeɪ tɪd /

noun

Immunology.

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

Immunity resulting from a cell-mediated immune response.
Also called cellular immunity
Compare humoral immunity

Etymology

Origin of cell-mediated immunity

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

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cell-mediated immunity

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

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