immunity
Use Immunity in a sentence
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nɪ noun, plural im·mu·ni·ties.
1.
the state of being immune from or insusceptible to a particular disease or the like.
2.
the condition that permits either natural or acquired resistance to disease.
3.
the ability of a cell to react immunologically in the presence of an antigen.
4.
exemption from any natural or usual liability.
5.
exemption from obligation, service, duty, or liability to taxation, jurisdiction, etc.: The ambassador claimed diplomatic immunity when they arrested him for reckless driving.
Related forms
hy·per·im·mu·ni·ty, noun
non·im·mu·ni·ty, noun, plural non·im·mu·ni·ties.
self-im·mu·ni·ty, noun, plural self·-im·mu·ni·ties.
Antonyms
1. susceptibility. 4, 5. liability.
1. susceptibility. 4, 5. liability.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To immunity
00:10
Immunity
is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
immunity (ɪˈmjuːnɪtɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -ties | |
| 1. | acquired immunity See also natural immunity 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) |
| 2. | freedom from obligation or duty, esp exemption from tax, duty, legal liability, etc |
| 3. | any special privilege granting immunity |
| 4. | the exemption of ecclesiastical persons or property from various civil obligations or liabilities |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
immunity
1382, "exempt from service or obligation," from L. immunitatem (nom. immunitas) "exemption from performing public service or charge," from immunis "exempt, free," from in- "not" + munis "performing services" (cf. municipal), from PIE *moi-n-es-, suffixed form of base
*mei- "to change" (see mutable). Medical sense "protection from disease" is 1879 from Fr. or Ger.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
immunity im·mu·ni·ty (ĭ-my&oomacr;'nĭ-tē)
n.
The quality or condition of being immune.
Inherited, acquired, or induced resistance to infection by a specific pathogen.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
immunity (ĭ-my 'nĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
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. See also acquired immunity. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
immunity definition
The ability of the body to resist or fight off infection and disease.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
In the healthy, a vaccinia infection is largely harmless and merely confers immunity to smallpox.
Also, not all vaccines provide lifetime immunity and booster shots are required.
Another challenge is that the vaccine takes two weeks to provide full immunity.
Walker is also weighing a challenge to that immunity legislation.
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