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

Nester said that until 2025, standard treatment included steroids, immunosuppressants and even chemotherapy. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 June 2026

After four weeks, those with moderate-to-severe depression and low-grade inflammation who took tocilizumab (commonly sold under the brand name Actemra), an immunosuppressant used to treat rheumatoid arthritis by lowering a specific type of inflammation, seemed to notch improvements. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 June 2026

The successful transplant was remarkable at the time because dialysis, which helps a patient survive until a compatible donor is found, had not yet been developed; and because immunosuppressants had not been developed to protect the transplanted kidney from rejection. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

To help prevent this with a partial match, Max would likely need chemotherapy and immunosuppressants for a longer period of time, which could weaken his immune system. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

immuno- + suppressant, after immunosuppression

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for immunosuppressant

• chemiluminescent
• immunofluorescent
• thermoluminescent
• acquiescent
• adolescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent
• deliquescent
• effervescent
• evanescent
• incandescent

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