immune
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
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.
-
exempt or protected.
He thought being rich made him immune from punishment, but he went to jail for his crimes.
-
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.
noun
adjective
-
protected against a specific disease by inoculation or as the result of innate or acquired resistance
-
relating to or conferring immunity See antibody
an immune body
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unsusceptible (to) or secure (against)
immune to inflation
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exempt from obligation, penalty, etc
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A familiar example of this concept, known as indirect genetic effects, occurs when a mother's genes influence her offspring's growth or immune system through the environment she provides.
From Science Daily
They find that others still prefer to keep their distance, despite the fact that the disease isn’t spread through casual contact and 95% of people are naturally immune.
A research team from MIT and Stanford University has developed a new technique designed to push the immune system to go after tumor cells.
From Science Daily
But that does not make it immune to the challenges of congestion.
From BBC
She has an immune system deficiency which makes it hard for her to fight bacteria.
From BBC
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.
