immunotherapy

noun

im·​mu·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌi-myə-nō-ˈther-ə-pē 

i-ˌmyü-nō-

: treatment or prevention of disease (such as an autoimmune disorder, allergy, or cancer) that involves the stimulation, enhancement, suppression, or desensitization of the immune system see adoptive immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

ˌi-myə-nō-ˌther-ə-ˈpyü-tik 

i-ˌmyü-nō-

adjective

Examples of immunotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The immunotherapy hits her four or five days after each treatment. —David Oliver, USA Today, 7 May 2025

Once those mutations are identified, patients can learn whether any new and emerging immunotherapies may benefit them by targeting those mutations. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 5 May 2025

For example, all 12 patients in a 2022 clinical trial testing one type of immunotherapy had their rectal cancer completely disappear, without remission or adverse effects. —Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2025

Oral immunotherapy for children with a high-threshold peanut allergy American Academy of Allergy and Asthma & Immunology. —Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Immunotherapie, from immuno- immuno- + Therapie therapy

Note: The German word was introduced by Paul ehrlich in the lecture "Chemotherapie von Infektionskrankheiten," published in Zeitschrift für ärtzliche Fortbildung, 6. Jahrgang, Nummer 23 (1. Dezember 1909), pp. 721-33.

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immunotherapy

• adoptive immunotherapy

Rhymes for immunotherapy

• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy
• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy
• sclerotherapy

Medical Definition

immunotherapy

noun

im·​mu·​no·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē 

plural immunotherapies

: treatment or prevention of disease (such as a cancer, autoimmune disorder, or allergy) that involves the stimulation, enhancement, suppression, or desensitization of the immune system

Demonstrating promise is immunotherapy, in which special medications are used to beef up the body's own cancer-fighting cells.

—Harvard Health Letter

If environmental control and pharmacotherapy fail to control symptoms, then allergen immunotherapy—also called hyposensitization or desensitization—may be considered.

—Discover

called also immune therapy

see adoptive immunotherapy

immunotherapeutic

-ˌther-ə-ˈpyüt-ik 

adjective

immunotherapeutic activity

immunotherapeutic methods