immune

adjective

im·​mune i-ˈmyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
1
: not susceptible or responsive
immune to all pleas
especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease
immune to diphtheria
2
a
: produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response
immune agglutinins
immune globulins
b
: having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen
an immune serum
3
a
: marked by protection
some criminal leaders are immune from arrest
b
: free, exempt
immune from further taxation
immune noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it 'immune to' or 'immune from'?

In most cases, if you are immune to something, it has no effect on you—for example, you might be immune to a disease or to criticism. If you are immune from something, it cannot reach you—for example, you might be immune from prosecution in a plea bargain.

What is the immune system?

The immune system is what protects your body from diseases and infections. It's the bodily system that produces the immune response to defend your body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues. The immune system includes various parts of the body including the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (such as those in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), macrophages, lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies.

What is herd immunity?

The term herd immunity refers to a reduction in the likelihood of someone catching a specific infectious disease because a significant proportion of the people in that person's community are immune to it. If you are less likely to come in contact with an infectious person, you're less likely to get infected yourself. The people in a community can be immune to a particular disease especially through previous exposure or vaccination.

Examples of immune in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web High school campuses are not immune to this opioid epidemic, as the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District has seen in multiple fentanyl overdoses that have rocked its community in recent years. Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Presidents are generally protected from criminal charges while in the White House, and ex-Presidents are immune from suits for civil damages for official acts. Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2024 Yet, even those who tread more cautiously at high altitude are not immune from the health hazards waiting in the thin air above. Brian Strickland, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 Judge Scott McCoy on Wednesday ruled the Center for Arizona Policy and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club are not immune from Proposition 211, which won more than 70% voter approval in the 2022 election. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 While that’s already happened in some parts of California, San Diego County so far has been immune to the threat of default and foreclosure, according to Atlas CEO Alan Reay. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Today's top stories The Supreme Court will hear arguments in April over whether former President Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for actions taken while in office. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 29 Feb. 2024 But more than that, no person is immune from everything. USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 Many of the big tech companies seemed immune to large-scale layoffs, and as their profits skyrocketed, those cushy jobs became highly sought after. Michael Calore Lauren Goode, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immune.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin immunis, from in- + munia services, obligations; akin to Latin munus service — more at mean

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Time Traveler
The first known use of immune was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near immune

Cite this Entry

“Immune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immune. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

immune

adjective
im·​mune im-ˈyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
1
: exempt entry 1
immune from punishment
2
a
: not influenced by something
immune to persuasion
b
: having a high degree of resistance to an illness or disease
3
: containing or producing antibodies

Medical Definition

immune

1 of 2 adjective
im·​mune im-ˈyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
1
: not susceptible or responsive
especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease
immune to diphtheria
2
a
: having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen
an immune serum
b
: produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response
immune agglutinins

immune

2 of 2 noun
: an immune individual

Legal Definition

immune

adjective
im·​mune i-ˈmyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
: having immunity : exempt
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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