immunity
Americannoun
-
immunities
plural
-
the state of being immune from or insusceptible to a particular disease or the like.
- Antonyms:
- susceptibility
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the condition that permits either natural or acquired resistance to disease.
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the ability of a cell to react immunologically in the presence of an antigen.
-
exemption from any natural or usual liability.
- Antonyms:
- liability
-
exemption from obligation, service, duty, or liability to taxation, jurisdiction, etc..
The ambassador claimed diplomatic immunity when they arrested him for reckless driving.
- Synonyms:
- prerogative, liberty, license, franchise
- Antonyms:
- liability
-
Law. exemption from criminal prosecution or legal liability or punishment on certain conditions.
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special privilege.
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Ecclesiastical.
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the exemption of ecclesiastical persons and things from secular or civil liabilities, duties, and burdens.
-
a particular exemption of this kind.
-
noun
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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
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freedom from obligation or duty, esp exemption from tax, duty, legal liability, etc
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any special privilege granting immunity
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the exemption of ecclesiastical persons or property from various civil obligations or liabilities
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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.
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See also acquired immunity
Synonym Usage
See exemption.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of immunity
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
Explanation
Immunity means exemption or resistance. If you're protected against something, you have immunity to it. Your new silver clothes just might grant you immunity from getting thrown in jail by the fashion police. In the late 14th century, the noun immunity, which means “exempt from service or obligation,” developed from the Latin immunitatem, which has nearly identical meaning. Break that word down even further, and you get immunis, meaning “exempt, free,” from in "not" and munis, meaning “performing services.” In a medical sense, immunity is “protection from disease.” Your annual flu shot tries to give you immunity from, or make you insusceptible to, the illness.
Vocabulary lists containing immunity
The Constitution of the United States
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"On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B. Anthony
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Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
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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.
See Examples For:
Some of the state defendants will probably claim immunity from suit.
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026
While Kiritsis sought to use Hall’s life as a bargaining chip for prosecutorial immunity, he also portrayed himself as an underdog taking on powerful financial interests.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Sacoolas left the UK after diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The rate for the MMR vaccines for children entering kindergarten is in the low 80s, still below herd immunity.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
“I’ll bet he got immunity for helping,” a kid said—a kid who’d always been his friend.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Another provision, the Privileges or Immunities Clause, declares that no state “shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"We call on the de facto authorities to ensure compliance with the privileges and immunities of the UN and its officials."
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
The focus of these hearings is to aid the judges in answering the question posed by the UN General Assembly, specifically whether Israel acted unlawfully in overriding the immunities and privileges of a UN body.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025
Ecuador’s presidency on Friday night also alleged that Mexico’s government had “abused immunities and privileges granted to the diplomatic mission” and granted “diplomatic asylum contrary to the conventional legal framework.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2024
“This place isn’t known for cleaning their germy dishes, but it’ll build up your immunities before you get home. You can go back to Jankburg the strongest little boy around.”
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
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.
