immune
immune Lexical Profile
immune Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Protected against or resistant to a particular infection, disease, or toxin owing to the presence of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
"Once a patient recovers from this childhood illness, they typically remain immune to it for life."
Relating to, producing, or functioning as part of the body's biological defense mechanism against pathogens and foreign substances.
"Adequate sleep and balanced nutrition are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system."
Not affected, influenced, or harmed by something undesirable; impervious or unresponsive.
"No industry is completely immune to the effects of a prolonged economic recession."
Protected or exempt from an obligation, penalty, or legal prosecution.
"Foreign diplomats are generally immune from local criminal jurisdiction under international law."
• noun
A person or organism that is resistant to and protected against a particular infectious disease.
"Epidemiological models track the ratio of susceptibles to immunes within the general population."
Word Nuance & Usage
In biological contexts, "immune" is typically followed by the preposition "to" (e.g., "immune to the virus"), whereas in legal or general contexts meaning exempt, it can be followed by either "to" or "from" (e.g., "immune from prosecution").
• Rhymes for immune
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late Middle English period from Latin immunis, meaning "exempt from public service or charges," formed from the assimilative prefix in- ("not") and munis ("performing services"), from munus ("duty, service, or tax"). The modern biological sense was adopted in the late 19th century.