autoimmune
adjective
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Any healthy body produces a variety of antibodies, proteins in the blood whose job is to protect the body from unwanted bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. The cells and organs that deal with such infections make up the immune system. In some people and animals, for various reasons, the antibodies become overactive and turn on the body's healthy tissues as well; the result is an autoimmune disease—an immune response directed against one's own self. More than eighty autoimmune diseases have been identified, the best-known being type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Examples of autoimmune in a Sentence
Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
In December 2021, a year and a half after first noticing rashes and extreme exhaustion, then-20-year-old Broyden was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a very rare autoimmune disease that causes severe reactions to sunlight.
—Nicki Cox, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Hair loss can be caused by genetics, hormones, age, or underlying medical conditions (like some autoimmune diseases).
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Biegler's positive outlook comes from the company's portfolio of drugs to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for autoimmune
Cite this Entry
“Autoimmune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autoimmune. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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autoimmune
adjective
Medical Definition
autoimmune
adjective
