immunity

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​ty i-ˈmyü-nə-tē How to pronounce immunity (audio)
plural immunities
: the quality or state of being immune
especially : a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products see also active immunity, passive immunity

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 immunity in a Sentence

They have developed immunity to the virus. They have developed an immunity to the virus.
Recent Examples on the Web The booster shot is meant to top-up immunity for people most vulnerable to infection before a new round of COVID vaccines roll out this fall. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 11 Mar. 2024 The immunity would be retroactive but would exclude pending litigation. Kim Chandler The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2024 Plus, immunity will be up for grabs at the Elimination Challenges, making the winner safe in the next episode, according to Bravo. Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024 The court has moved less quickly to resolve Trump’s separate claim of presidential immunity from prosecution. David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 That’s the belief of all conspiracy theorists, and the Left instantly went there upon the news that the Supreme Court will hear Donald Trump’s immunity claim in Jack Smith’s January 6 case. Rich Lowry, National Review, 1 Mar. 2024 Clearly, immunity is not long-lasting for many, given the number of people reporting recurrent Covid infections, and recurrent infection is considered a substantial risk for long Covid. Judy Stone, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Smith's other case against Trump is currently in limbo, while the Supreme Court considers the former president's efforts to claim presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. Robert Legare, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 Freeman had moved back to Florida and initially refused to talk to investigators until she was granted immunity, which detectives requested and obtained from the State Attorney’s Office. Frank Fernandez, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immunity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near immunity

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

immunity

noun
im·​mu·​ni·​ty im-ˈyü-nət-ē How to pronounce immunity (audio)
plural immunities
1
2
: bodily power to resist an infectious disease that usually results from vaccination or inoculation, a previous attack of the disease, or a natural resistance

Medical Definition

immunity

noun
im·​mu·​ni·​ty im-ˈyü-nət-ē How to pronounce immunity (audio)
plural immunities
: the quality or state of being immune
especially : a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products see acquired immunity, active immunity, natural immunity, passive immunity

Legal Definition

immunity

noun
im·​mu·​ni·​ty i-ˈmyü-nə-tē How to pronounce immunity (audio)
plural immunities
1
: exemption from a duty or liability that is granted by law to a person or class of persons
a defendant may not take the stand in his own behalf and then claim immunity from cross-examinationW. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
also : the affirmative defense of having such an exemption
absolute immunity
: immunity from all personal civil liability without limits or conditions (as a requirement of good faith) compare qualified immunity in this entry
charitable immunity
: immunity from civil liability especially for negligent torts that is granted to a charitable or nonprofit organization (as a hospital)
constitutional immunity
: immunity (as from a tax) that is granted or created by a constitution (as the U.S. Constitution)
corporate immunity
: immunity from personal liability for tortious acts that is granted to an officer of a corporation who acted in good faith and within the course of his or her duties see also business judgment rule compare pierce
diplomatic immunity
: immunity (as from taxes or prosecution) granted to a diplomat
discovery immunity
discretionary immunity
: qualified immunity from civil liability for tortious acts or omissions that arise from a government employee's discretionary acts performed as part of the employee's duties see also the Federal Tort Claims Act

Note: The Federal Tort Claims Act includes an additional requirement of acting in good faith for the discretionary immunity granted to the federal government.

executive immunity
: immunity granted to officers of the executive branch of government from personal liability for tortious acts or omissions done in the course of carrying out their duties

Note: While the president's executive immunity is absolute, the immunity of other federal executive officials is qualified.

governmental immunity
: discretionary immunity granted to a governmental unit (as an agency) or its employees
broadly : sovereign immunity in this entry
judicial immunity
: absolute immunity from civil liability that is granted to judges and other court officers (as prosecutors and grand juries) and quasi-judicial officials for tortious acts or omissions done within the scope of their jurisdiction or authority
legislative immunity
: absolute immunity from civil liability that is granted to legislators for tortious acts or omissions done in the course of legislative activities see also speech or debate clause
official immunity
: discretionary immunity from personal liability that is granted to public officers for tortious acts and omissions compare governmental immunity in this entry
qualified immunity
: immunity from civil liability that is conditioned or limited (as by a requirement of good faith or due care)
specifically : official immunity from damages for acts that violate another's civil rights that is granted if it can be shown that the acts do not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would be aware see also Civil Rights Act
sovereign immunity
: the absolute immunity of a sovereign government (as a state) from being sued see also Federal Tort Claims Act

Note: For an action to be brought against a state or the federal government, sovereign immunity must be waived by the government.

transactional immunity \ tran-​ˈzak-​shə-​nəl-​, -​ˈsak-​ \
: immunity from criminal prosecution granted to a witness for an offense related to his or her compelled testimony see also use immunity in this entry
use immunity
: immunity granted to a witness in a criminal case that prevents the use of the witness's compelled testimony against that witness in a criminal prosecution

Note: Transactional and use immunity are granted to preserve the constitutional protection against self-incrimination. The states grant either form of this immunity, while the federal government grants only use immunity. A witness with use immunity may still be prosecuted, but only based on evidence not gathered from the protected testimony.

2
: a usually statutory prohibition that excludes specific documents or information from discovery

called also discovery immunity

Etymology

Latin immunitas, from immunis exempt from public service, exempt, from in- non- + -munis (from munia services)

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