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
-
unsusceptible (to) or secure (against)
immune to inflation
-
exempt from obligation, penalty, etc
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of immune
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin immūnis “exempt,” from im- im- 2 + -mūnis ( see common)
Explanation
To be immune to something is to be resistant to it. If you had chickenpox as a child, you should be immune to it now. The adjective immune comes from the Latin word immunis, which means “exempt from public service.” If you're protected — or exempt — from disease, injury, work, insults, or accusations, then you're immune. Vaccinations serve to make people immune to certain diseases. Being a diplomat makes people immune to certain legal persecution. To be immune to bullying means that you don’t let the bad behavior of your peers get you down.
Vocabulary lists containing immune
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
All American Boys
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Life Science: Human Systems
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Scientists sequence the tumor to identify mutated proteins, which are also called neoantigens, and then create an mRNA strand using up to 34 of the neoantigens that they believe will produce the best immune response.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
Scientists already understood that excessive double-stranded RNA could provoke potentially harmful immune responses.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
The brain also contains specialized immune cells known as microglia.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Temporarily removing most of the brain's immune cells is also not an established or practical treatment for Alzheimer's patients.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Lovey visited her friend as well, but the young girl was not immune to Hob’s reputation and got skittish in the presence of Nag and Mary and the others.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
