immune response

noun

: a bodily response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify the antigenic molecule as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and lymphocytes capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless

called also immune reaction

Examples of immune response in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still others trigger an immune response akin to an allergic reaction. —Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026

Very young infants have antibodies from their mother that may interfere with their own immune response, including to measles vaccine. —Virginia E. Pitzer, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2026

Zheng says that means the animals had mounted an immune response to the virus matching the vaccine they'd been exposed to. —Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026

One hypothesis for why, Huang said, involves chronic inflammation — a long-term immune response linked to conditions such as metabolic liver disease, heart disease and diabetes. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for immune response

• bons
• hans
• launce
• nonce
• sconce
• esperance
• nonchalance
• nonresponse
• renaissance
• naissance

Kids Definition

immune response

noun

: a bodily response to a foreign substance, cell, or tissue that involves the formation of antibodies and cells capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless

called also immune reaction

Medical Definition

immune response

noun

: a bodily response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify the antigenic molecule as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and lymphocytes capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless

called also immune reaction