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.
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exempt or protected.
He thought being rich made him immune from punishment, but he went to jail for his crimes.
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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
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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.
“However, Europe is not immune to global price-spikes,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Eventually we learned I had an immune condition; I also had mono, which felt cosmically unfair considering I had not yet been kissed and suspected I’d contracted it from the skating rink water fountain.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
He started chemotherapy soon after the February podcast was recorded and was getting white blood cell injections to help boost his immune system.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
At the same time, even experienced managers are not immune to market or credit risk.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026
But that person must have been immune to the cheerleaders and their cheers because he didn’t end up on my list anywhere.
From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher
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.
