natural immunity

American

noun

immunity that is present without prior immunization.

natural immunity British

noun

immunity with which an individual is born, which has a genetic basis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

More than 95 percent of all people have natural immunity to Hansen’s, which is only mildly communicable even to those with susceptibility, and since 1941, it has been entirely curable.

From Salon

Surviving populations may have natural immunity, which could help shape more resilient captive-rearing programs.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's going to have to run through the community. Until they get that natural immunity, it'll just keep running its course."

From BBC

McGill University scientists have discovered that pregnancy may trigger a natural immunity to boost protection against severe flu infection.

From Science Daily

He argued against lockdowns and masking for children, questioned the benefits of vaccine boosters, and predicted incorrectly that populations would quickly acquire natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

From Science Magazine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023