passive immunity

noun

: short-acting immunity acquired by transfer of antibodies (as by injection of gamma globulin) compare active immunity
passive immunization noun

Examples of passive immunity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Additionally, active immunity is long-lasting but takes a few weeks to develop; passive immunity is immediate but temporary. Leah Groth, Health, 17 Nov. 2023 Active immunity refers to immunity your body develops from making antibodies on its own, while you are given antibodies in passive immunity. Leah Groth, Health, 17 Nov. 2023 At the moment, there are only two ways to prevent RSV: the usual hygiene practices used to prevent common colds (such as mask wearing, hand washing and avoiding sick people) and palivizumab, a short-acting monoclonal antibody that provides passive immunity to infants for up to one month at a time. Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2023 Pfizer also announced last November that its maternal RSV vaccine—intended for administration during pregnancy so that maternal antibodies provide passive immunity—is 82 percent effective against severe RSV in newborns for up to three months and 69 percent effective through six months. Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2023 One short-term but potentially lifesaving strategy that has not yet been mentioned in the show involves passive immunity. David Warmflash, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2014 Finally, while working on a vaccine, Earth’s health organizations and the crew and scientists of The Last Ship would be considering strategies other than active and passive immunity – namely those involving drug therapy. David Warmflash, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2014 Some of the monoclonal antibodies made to give people passive immunity against the virus have also stopped working against the new variants. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Again, this suggests vaccinated mothers could be giving their babies passive immunity against the virus. Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'passive 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

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of passive immunity was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near passive immunity

Cite this Entry

“Passive immunity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passive%20immunity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

passive immunity

noun
: temporary immunity acquired by transfer (as by injection) of antibodies especially from an individual with active immunity

Medical Definition

passive immunity

noun
: short-acting immunity acquired by transfer of antibodies (as by injection of gamma globulin) compare acquired immunity, active immunity, innate immunity
passive immunization noun
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