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

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

This causes significant, disruptive and often painful dry eyes and mouths, plus other symptoms as a result of an altered immune response. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Mar. 2026

Both cancer cells and viruses likely interfere with proteins in the complex to swing the protein-making machinery in their favor or shut down an immune response. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 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