immunosuppressant

noun

im·​mu·​no·​sup·​pres·​sant ˌi-myə-nō-sə-ˈpre-sᵊnt 

i-ˌmyü-nō-

plural immunosuppressants

: an agent (such as a drug) that suppresses the immune response

The drug was a strong immunosuppressant and was lowering the rats' T-cell counts, making them more vulnerable to infections.

—Chip Brown

… a highly specific immunosuppressant that prevents patients from rejecting transplanted tissue.

—Barry Werth

immunosuppressant adjective

immunosuppressant drugs

Examples of immunosuppressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Treatment currently relies on immunosuppressants to reduce inflammation and pain, however, the drugs often don't effectively treat the disease and their side effects hinder the body’s ability to stave off infections, researchers said. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

Typically, this involves taking prescribed medications (usually immunosuppressants) and following up regularly with your transplant team for a month or more. —Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 2 July 2024

But pregnancy acts like an immunosuppressant, telling the defense system to stand down in order to ensure the body does not inadvertently reject the growing baby. —Zoya Teirstein, Vox, 30 May 2024

There, doctors put her on immunosuppressants and told her the reactions would subside in a couple of months. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

immuno- + suppressant, after immunosuppression

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

immunosuppressant

1 of 2 noun

im·​mu·​no·​sup·​pres·​sant -sə-ˈpres-ᵊnt 

: an agent (such as a drug) that suppresses the immune response

The experiments focused on the use of cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant widely used in human kidney, heart-lung, bone marrow, pancreas and liver transplants.

—Science News

immunosuppressant

2 of 2 adjective

: immunosuppressive

immunosuppressant effects