immune

American  

[ih-myoon] / ɪˈmyun /

adjective

1. protected from a disease or the like, as by inoculation or by having the necessary antibodies due to a previous infection (often followed byto ).

   Most adults in the study were immune to yellow fever due to previous vaccination.

   Since I had already had measles, I assumed I was immune.

2. of or relating to the production of antibodies or lymphocytes that can react with a specific antigen.

   Crohn's disease is an abnormal immune reaction that causes the immune system to attack cells in the lining of the digestive tract.

3. exempt or protected.

   He thought being rich made him immune from punishment, but he went to jail for his crimes.

4. not responsive or susceptible.

   Over time writers are supposed to grow immune to criticism and let bad reviews roll off our backs.

   You're certainly highly resistant to argument, and also immune to new ideas.

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noun

1. a person who is immune.

immune British  

/ ɪˈmjuːn /

adjective

1. protected against a specific disease by inoculation or as the result of innate or acquired resistance

2. relating to or conferring immunity See antibody

   an immune body

3. unsusceptible (to) or secure (against)

   immune to inflation

4. exempt from obligation, penalty, etc

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noun

1. an immune person or animal

Other Word Forms

• hyperimmune adjective
• nonimmune adjective

Etymology

Origin of immune

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin immūnis “exempt,” from im- im- ² + -mūnis ( common )

Example Sentences

Illumination with red light is designed to rupture the cell, releasing cancer antigens that may activate the body’s immune system to fight the cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal

AbbVie, which has a market value of above $400 billion, generates about half of its yearly revenue from sales of drugs for immune conditions such as psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though Spotify has continued to invest in podcasts, it has not been immune to volatility in the business.

From Los Angeles Times

Research shows obesity can impair immune function, drive chronic inflammation, and raise the risk of many serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

From Science Daily

While not immune to misinformation and scams, LinkedIn lured people leaving X and Facebook as content moderation and fact-checking there declined.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• exempt
• resistant
• unaffected