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immune

adjective
im·​mune | \ i-ˈmyĂŒn How to pronounce immune (audio) \

Definition of immune

1a : free, exempt immune from further taxation
b : marked by protection some criminal leaders are immune from arrest
2 : not susceptible or responsive immune to all pleas especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease immune to diphtheria
3a : 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 globulins
Other Words from immune Is it immune from or immune to? More Example Sentences Learn More about immune

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Other Words from immune

immune noun

Is it immune from or immune to?

Many people find themselves confused about which preposition, to or from, to use after the word immune. The traditional wisdom of usage commentators is that you become immune to a disease or a drug (such as HIV or antibiotics) but immune from an obligation (such as a taxation) or something that can happen to you (such as prosecution). But some say that the choice of preposition depends on the relationship between the affecting thing and the object being affected. According to Bryan Garner in Modern English Usage, for example, “What you’re immune from can’t touch you; what you’re immune to may touch you, but it has no effect.” So if you are immune from prosecution, the prosecutor cannot go after you; if you are immune to a suitor’s charms, the suitor can keep wooing you, but it would be to no avail.

Actual usage shows that there are no perfectly clear-cut rules. One can, for example, be immune to legal consequences or be immune from typhoid. The best advice, then, might be to follow your own ear.

Examples of immune in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 King Soopers itself hasn’t been immune to gun violence in recent years, though shootings on its property have happened outside the stores. — John Aguilar, The Denver Post, "King Soopers asks open-carry customers to leave guns at home," 4 Sep. 2019 Also: Even the Presidio isn’t immune from vehicle break-ins. — Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: ‘Very tragic’ boat fire off Southern California shoreline," 3 Sep. 2019 Even Chrissy Teigen is not immune, posting a pointed Instagram caption over the weekend to share her sorrows. — Emily Dixon, Marie Claire, "John Legend Proved He's a Good Instagram Husband After Chrissy Teigen Called Him Out," 28 Aug. 2019 Who is immune to the allure of the artist as type—not simply the artist by trade but the artist by temperament? — Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, "“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” and the False Dream That Art Will Fulfill You," 22 Aug. 2019 Universities in Alabama are clearly not immune to those increases. — Lily Jackson | [email protected], al.com, "Headed to college in August? Tuition is just the start," 21 July 2019 They may be put down to a one season wonder, however, the Serie A is not immune to an occasional outsider. — SI.com, "Assessing the 5 Teams Who Could End Juventus' Serie A Dominance Next Season," 16 July 2019 Daft Punk played on the overhead speaker, while the temperature dropped super low to -150 degrees Fahrenheit for immune-boosting results. — Laura Delarato, CondĂ© Nast Traveler, "What It's Like to Spend 24 Hours at the First Equinox Hotel," 20 Aug. 2019 On top of that, digital technologies like RFID (radio-frequency identification) and NFC (near-field communication), which enable many contactless systems, aren’t immune from hackers. — Mike Murphy, Quartz, "Apple is going to be the company that kills the wallet," 17 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'immune.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of immune

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for immune

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

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More Definitions for immune

immune

adjective
How to pronounce immune (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of immune

: not capable of being affected by a disease
: not influenced or affected by something
: having special protection from something that is required for most people by law

See the full definition for immune in the English Language Learners Dictionary

immune

adjective
im·​mune | \ i-ˈmyĂŒn How to pronounce immune (audio) \

Kids Definition of immune

1 : having a high degree of resistance to an illness or disease
2 : of, relating to, or involving the body's immune system an immune response
3 : not influenced or affected by something She is immune to criticism.
4 : not subject to something : exempt They are immune from punishment.

immune

adjective
im·​mune | \ im-ˈyĂŒn How to pronounce immune (audio) \

Medical Definition of immune

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not susceptible or responsive especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease immune to diphtheria
2a : 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

noun

Medical Definition of immune (Entry 2 of 2)

: an immune individual

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immune

adjective
im·​mune

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