immunize

especially British, im·mu·nise

[im-yuh-nahyz, ih-myoo-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

immunized, immunizing 

1. to make immune, or protected from a disease or the like.

   They are organizing a massive health campaign to immunize millions of children.

   George Washington's army immunized its soldiers against smallpox.

2. to shield, exempt, or protect.

   There is no moral or legal basis for immunizing victorious nations from scrutiny over their actions in a war.

3. Law.,  to grant (a witness) exemption from criminal prosecution, legal liability, or punishment on certain conditions.

   In exchange for her testimony, the court agreed to immunize the witness against prosecution for criminal activities committed during the relevant period.

immunize

/ ˈɪmjʊˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to make immune, esp by inoculation

Other Word Forms

• immunizer noun
• hyperimmunize verb (used with object)
• overimmunize verb (used with object)
• immunization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of immunize¹

First recorded in 1890–95; immune + -ize

Example Sentences

After Epstein’s death, the men used their executor roles—controlling both victims’ compensation and access to records—to try to immunize themselves from personal lawsuits, according to court filings.

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In essence, Democrats immunized him from his own past by accusing him of the one thing of which he could be found innocent.

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We can quibble over whether smoking guns tie the president personally to any corrupt act, or whether the Supreme Court was right to immunize presidents from the scrutiny applied to ordinary citizens.

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But RSV, the leading cause of infant hospitalization nationwide, presents particular risk for the youngest babies, a major reason health experts recommend pregnant women either get vaccinated near their delivery date or immunize their newborns.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Older adults who have been previously immunized against RSV generally don’t need to get another vaccine, according to current guidelines.

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Related Words

• inoculate 
• protect 
• vaccinate 

When To Use

What’s the difference between immunize, vaccinate, and inoculate?

In the context of medicine, immunize, inoculate, and vaccinate are often used in overlapping ways, and for good reason—they all involve introducing a substance (especially a vaccine) into a person’s body with the goal of preventing them from getting a particular disease.Vaccinate is the most specific of the three terms, because it always involves introducing a vaccine, which usually consists of a small amount of a killed, weakened, or otherwise modified version of a disease (such as a virus or bacterium). While inoculate has other meanings outside the context of medicine, in modern healthcare it’s typically used interchangeably with vaccinate (though it’s used less commonly).Immunize is slightly different—it means to provide immunity from a specific disease. While the goal of vaccinating someone is often to immunize them, not all vaccines provide permanent immunity. Some vaccines provide what amounts to long-term immunity, while others only lead to temporary protection, after which the body “forgets” how to make certain antibodies. In these cases, a booster shot or dose is often required, consisting of a follow-up vaccination to boost or renew the protection gained from the earlier vaccination.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between immunize, vaccinate, and inoculate.