immunotherapy

noun

im·​mu·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌi-myə-nō-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce immunotherapy (audio)
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 adjective

Examples of immunotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The trial involved a six-week course of two immunotherapy drugs administered via IV. Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 July 2025 Through the emergency brain surgery, radiation, immunotherapy treatment, and recovery process that followed, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum and Two Ts in a Pod podcast host was surrounded by a support team made up of her family and close friends, including her RHOBH costar Kyle Richards. Kyle Richards, Glamour, 17 July 2025 In 2015, Xia heard that pharma giant Merck was looking to license an immunotherapy drug candidate to target a protein called CTLA-4. Kerry A. Dolan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 In June, Mellencamp shared on Two Ts in a Pod that her immunotherapy treatments have been so successful in beating back the growth of her tumors that there are no plans to cease them. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for immunotherapy

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of immunotherapy was in 1910

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Cite this Entry

“Immunotherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immunotherapy. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

immunotherapy

noun
im·​mu·​no·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce immunotherapy (audio)
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 adjective
immunotherapeutic activity
immunotherapeutic methods

More from Merriam-Webster on immunotherapy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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