immunity
Americannoun
plural
immunities-
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.
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exemption from any natural or usual liability.
- Antonyms:
- liability
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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
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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.
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a particular exemption of this kind.
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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
Related Words
See exemption.
Other Word Forms
- hyperimmunity noun
- nonimmunity noun
- self-immunity noun
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
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.
French Response grants itself no diplomatic immunity for stereotypes, either.
By doing so, it links the body's two main defense systems -- innate and adaptive immunity -- into a coordinated and longer lasting response.
From Science Daily
“The scientific evidence shows that one dose is all that’s needed to confer immunity to adolescents to provide long-term protection against HPV that causes cervical cancer,” Simon said.
From Salon
Call it the AI immunity trade, HALO—for “heavy assets, low obsolescence”—or just another iteration of the jitters that have periodically rippled through markets since the AI investing boom began.
It’s maximalist in a quiet yet practical way, all while providing us comfort and immunity throughout the seasons.
From Salon
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.
