immune

adjective

im·​mune i-ˈmyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
Synonyms of immunenext
1
: not susceptible or responsive
immune to all pleas
especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease
immune to diphtheria
2
a
: produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response
immune agglutinins
immune globulins
b
: having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen
an immune serum
3
a
: marked by protection
some criminal leaders are immune from arrest
b
: free, exempt
immune from further taxation
immune noun

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 immune 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.
Chronic stress takes a serious toll on the body—accelerating aging, undermining cardiovascular health and degrading your immune and metabolic systems. — Shefali Raina, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Because immune activity often appears there before becoming visible in blood tests, the technology could help physicians monitor autoimmune diseases, infections, vaccine responses, and even cancer treatment more quickly and comfortably. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026 Bellows notes that such compounds also contribute to overall immune function and long-term health. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 July 2026 Some people might be more prone to activating an immune component known as IgE, for example, which tends to stimulate other immune mechanisms involved in an allergic reaction. — Alice Park, Time, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for immune

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin immunis, from in- + munia services, obligations; akin to Latin munus service — more at mean

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Time Traveler
The first known use of immune was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing immune

Rhymes for immune

See All Rhymes for immune

Browse Nearby Words

immund
immune
immune body
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immune. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

immune

adjective
im·​mune im-ˈyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
1
: exempt entry 1
immune from punishment
2
a
: not influenced by something
immune to persuasion
b
: having a high degree of resistance to an illness or disease
3
: containing or producing antibodies

Medical Definition

immune

1 of 2 adjective
im·​mune im-ˈyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
1
: not susceptible or responsive
especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease
immune to diphtheria
2
a
: having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen
an immune serum
b
: produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response
immune agglutinins

immune

2 of 2 noun
: an immune individual

Legal Definition

immune

adjective
im·​mune i-ˈmyün How to pronounce immune (audio)
: having immunity : exempt

More from Merriam-Webster on immune

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for immune

Nglish: Translation of immune for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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