immunology

American  

[im-yuh-nol-uh-jee] / ˌɪm yəˈnɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the branch of science dealing with the components of the immune system, immunity from disease, the immune response, and immunologic techniques of analysis.

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immunology British  

/ ˌɪmjʊˈnɒlədʒɪ, ˌɪmjʊnəˈlɒdʒɪk /

noun

1. the branch of biological science concerned with the study of immunity

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immunology Scientific  

/ ĭm′yə-nŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of the structure and function of the immune system.

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Other Word Forms

• immunologic adjective
• immunological adjective
• immunologically adverb
• immunologist noun

Etymology

Origin of immunology

First recorded in 1905–10; immuno- + -logy

Explanation

Immunology is the science of body systems that protect against infection. It's thanks to immunology that we're able to treat and prevent so many diseases today. Immunology is formed by adding the suffix -ology, or "science," to immune, or "exempt from a disease." Scientists and doctors who specialize in immunology study the way our immune systems function (and sometimes malfunction) as they work to defend us from viruses and bacteria. Immunologists are also instrumental in creating vaccines against new diseases and promising treatments like cancer immunotherapy, which boost the patient's own immune system.

Example Sentences

Johnson & Johnson’s immunology bet is paying off as the drugmaker gears up to market an innovative new psoriasis pill and had stronger-than-expected performance of another drug.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

"Our findings open a new field of nutritional immunology that looks at how specific dietary components interact with the immune system at the molecular level," Chen said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

The deal will expand Biogen’s portfolio in immunology and rare-disease medicines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

"This study shows what's possible when we combine chemical synthesis with biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and infection biology," Professor Payne said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2026

Vincent Racaniello, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University, who once calculated that he’s grown about 800 billion HeLa cells for his own research, says that restricting HeLa cell use would be disastrous.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot