immunity

[ ih-myoo-ni-tee ]
See synonyms for immunity on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural im·mu·ni·ties.
  1. the state of being immune from or insusceptible to a particular disease or the like.

  2. the condition that permits either natural or acquired resistance to disease.

  1. the ability of a cell to react immunologically in the presence of an antigen.

  2. exemption from any natural or usual liability.

  3. exemption from obligation, service, duty, or liability to taxation, jurisdiction, etc.: The ambassador claimed diplomatic immunity when they arrested him for reckless driving.

  4. Law. exemption from criminal prosecution or legal liability or punishment on certain conditions.

  5. special privilege.

  6. Ecclesiastical.

    • the exemption of ecclesiastical persons and things from secular or civil liabilities, duties, and burdens.

    • a particular exemption of this kind.

Origin of immunity

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French immunite, from Latin immūnitāt-, stem of immūnitās “freedom or exemption from public charges or burdens.” See immune, -ity

synonym study For immunity

4. See exemption.

Other words for immunity

Opposites for immunity

Other words from immunity

  • hy·per·im·mu·ni·ty, noun
  • non·im·mu·ni·ty, noun, plural non·im·mu·ni·ties.
  • self-im·mu·ni·ty, noun, plural self·-im·mu·ni·ties.

Words that may be confused with immunity

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

British Dictionary definitions for immunity

immunity

/ (ɪˈmjuːnɪtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
  1. the ability of an organism to resist disease, either through the activities of specialized blood cells or antibodies produced by them in response to natural exposure or inoculation (active immunity) or by the injection of antiserum or the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her baby via the placenta or breast milk (passive immunity): See also acquired immunity, natural immunity

  2. freedom from obligation or duty, esp exemption from tax, duty, legal liability, etc

  1. any special privilege granting immunity

  2. the exemption of ecclesiastical persons or property from various civil obligations or liabilities

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 immunity

immunity

[ ĭ-myōōnĭ-tē ]


  1. The protection of the body from a disease caused by an infectious agent, such as a bacterium or virus. Immunity may be natural (that is, inherited) or acquired. See also acquired immunity.

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

Cultural definitions for immunity

immunity

The ability of the body to resist or fight off infection and disease.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.