antibody

noun

an·​ti·​body ˈan-ti-ˌbä-dē 

: any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally by specialized B cells after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response, that are produced abnormally by some cancer cells, and that typically consist of four subunits including two heavy chains and two light chains

called also immunoglobulin

Examples of antibody in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If the antibody can’t produce those results, all the troubleshooting will have been a waste of time and money. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

But brain cancers are especially challenging to treat because many emerging therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates can’t pass through the blood-brain barrier. — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026

Twist Bioscience, in South San Francisco, received 1,260 of them, grew them as antibody fusions in human cells instead, and ran them on a different sensor format entirely. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

The antibody brings the chemo drug to a specific site—a cancer or tumor—by virtue of its interaction with a specific target that the antibody recognizes. — Maggie Donahue, HEALTH, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

anti- + body entry 1, after German Antikörper

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing antibody

• monoclonal antibody

Rhymes for antibody

• afterbody
• busybody
• everybody
• autoantibody
• bawdy
• body
• gaudy
• khadi
• mahdi
• noddy
• oddi
• shoddy

Kids Definition

antibody

noun

an·​ti·​body ˈant-i-ˌbäd-ē 

: a substance produced by special cells of the body that combines with an antigen and counteracts its effects or those of the microscopic plant or animal on which the antigen may occur

Medical Definition

antibody

noun

an·​ti·​body ˈant-i-ˌbäd-ē 

plural antibodies

: any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally by specialized B cells after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response, that are produced abnormally by some cancer cells, and that typically consist of four subunits including two heavy chains and two light chains

called also immunoglobulin