immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion ˌi-myə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

 also  i-ˌmyü-nə-

plural immunizations

: the act of making someone or something immune or the state of being immune : the act or result of immunizing someone or something: such as

a

: the production of immunity in a living organism against a disease or pathogenic agent

The plasmids used for immunization have been altered to carry genes specifying one or more antigenic proteins normally made by a selected pathogen …

—David B. Weiner et al.

also : treatment (as by vaccination) for the purpose of making an organism immune to a disease or pathogenic agent : the administration of an immune-producing substance

Measles is the single most infectious common disease—one person with measles who blunders into a crowded room will give it to almost everyone. If there were no immunization, measles would be universal.

—Wayne Biddle

Those benefits can include preventive care, such as annual physicals, immunizations, and well-baby visits.

—Consumer Reports

b

: the providing of protection or exemption from something harmful or unwanted (such as legal action)

immunization from liability

The Interior Department is negotiating with other private landowners to extend similar immunization from prosecution to those who agree to avoid activities that might hurt the bird's chances of survival.

—Ken Miller

Examples of immunization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An adult from Wayne County who had traveled internationally and had no record of measles immunization had the virus in February. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024

Earlier this month, the WHO's advisory group on immunizations grappled with how this data would apply to children and to adults who may be malnourished or face a different health profile than the one seen in high-income countries. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024

Then the state’s immunization director reminded doctors that a Tennessee law called the Mature Minor Doctrine didn’t require parental permission to vaccinate consenting adolescents 14 or older. —Amy Maxmen, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

Kelce, whose girlfriend is pop star Taylor Swift, recently hosted Saturday Night Live and bombards the airwaves with television commercials for insurance and immunizations. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2024

For once, expectant parents were the ones starting conversations about immunizations. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024

Lawmakers want to reach into Arizona school classrooms with bills that would dictate curriculum, make certain immunizations optional and scrap letter grades used to rank schools' performance. —Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024

Free immunization clinic for flu shots A free immunization clinic for flu shots will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. March 16-18 at 2745 Otay Pacific Drive. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024

Raising suspicions According to his immunization history, the man got his first Covid vaccine in June 2021. —Mira Cheng, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion

ˌim-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən

: treatment (as with a vaccine) to produce immunity to a disease

Medical Definition

immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion

variants also British immunisation

ˌim-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

: the creation of immunity usually against a particular disease

especially : treatment (as by vaccination) of an organism for the purpose of making it immune to a particular pathogen

immunization against polio