immunosuppressive

1 of 2

adjective

im·​mu·​no·​sup·​pres·​sive ˌi-myə-nō-sə-ˈpre-siv 

i-ˌmyü-nō-

: causing or characterized by immunosuppression

This pneumonia is characteristically an opportunistic infection, occurring in people whose immune system has been profoundly impaired by cancer or by powerful immunosuppressive drugs.

—William L. Heyward and James W. Curran

Progression of conditions associated with human papillomavirus, such as cutaneous warts, is common in patients receiving long-term immunosuppressive therapy after transplantation.

—Nektarios I. Lountzis et al.

immunosuppressive

2 of 2

noun

plural immunosuppressives

: immunosuppressant

The trials may also be too risky for people who are severely immunocompromised—i.e., you have cancer or take immunosuppressives.

—Julia Ries

Examples of immunosuppressive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Because the transplanted islet cells are not the patient’s own, recipients currently require immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection—a challenge shared by all current forms of tissue and organ transplantation. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Certain immunosuppressive drugs and medical treatments can also have the same effect.6 Birthmarks: Some birthmarks (colored areas of skin present at or immediately after birth) can develop into melanoma. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 9 July 2025

Noun

Individuals with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of disease are at greater risk for severe disease from Vibrio following exposure. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

However, the short-term release of cortisol is not bad, as cortisol is known to have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 14 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

immuno- + suppressive, after immunosuppression

Noun

derivative of immunosuppressive entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1963, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for immunosuppressive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive

Medical Definition

immunosuppressive

1 of 2 adjective

im·​mu·​no·​sup·​pres·​sive ˌim-yə-nō-sə-ˈpres-iv  im-ˌyü-nō- 

: causing or characterized by immunosuppression

… graft-versus-host disease strikes the skin, gut, liver and lymph tissues and can lead to death unless rapidly brought under control by immunosuppressive drugs.

—Joan Arehart-Treichel, Science News

These drugs may also have immunosuppressive actions, which may contribute to their ability to induce permanent remissions of Graves' disease.

—Kiyoshi Hashizume et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

immunosuppressive

2 of 2 noun

: immunosuppressant