community immunity

noun

: herd immunity
Encouraging our families, friends and neighbors to get vaccinated adds layers of protection and helps us create community immunity.—Larry Antonucci
There is a level of vaccination that is needed to protect a community from an outbreak of disease. This is called "herd immunity" and sometimes, "community immunity."—Erica Parker

Examples of community immunity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When community immunity slips, high-risk groups often pay the highest price. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026 But researchers warn that status is in jeopardy as community immunity drops below the 95% threshold needed to prevent spread. — Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2026 This variation may cause uneven vaccine uptake, further reducing community immunity and increasing the risk of localized outbreaks. — A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026 Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles but also contribute to community immunity. — Mustafa Fattah, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for community immunity

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of community immunity was in 1915

Rhymes for community immunity

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Browse Nearby Words

community house
community immunity
community organization
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Cite this Entry

“Community immunity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community%20immunity. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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