immunoglobulin

noun

im·​mu·​no·​glob·​u·​lin ˌi-myə-nō-ˈglä-byə-lən How to pronounce immunoglobulin (audio)
i-ˌmyü-nō-
: antibody
The glycoproteins produced by B-cells, called antibodies or immunoglobulins, recognize and bind free antigens and are responsible for humoral immunity …—Haruo Saito et al.
—abbreviation Ig

Examples of immunoglobulin 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.
Traces of immunoglobulin, lipocalin, and lysozyme are indicators of an active immune response, for instance. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 3 Mar. 2026 Another cost comes from the rabies immunoglobulin, which is administered to help the immune system fight the virus until the vaccine kicks in. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 When told their children should get preventive care, including a tetanus vaccine and immunoglobulin, both families declined. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 17 Apr. 2026 Several pregnant women also required immunoglobulin treatment after exposure to help protect against the high risk of complications, the state health department said. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for immunoglobulin

Word History

Etymology

immuno- + globulin

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immunoglobulin was in 1953

Phrases Containing immunoglobulin

Rhymes for immunoglobulin

See All Rhymes for immunoglobulin

Browse Nearby Words

immunogenic
immunoglobulin
immunohematology
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immunoglobulin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immunoglobulin. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

immunoglobulin

noun
im·​mu·​no·​glob·​u·​lin -ˈgläb-yə-lən How to pronounce immunoglobulin (audio)
: antibody
—abbreviation Ig

More from Merriam-Webster on immunoglobulin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about immunoglobulin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All