immune

adjective

im·​mune i-ˈmyün 

1

: not susceptible or responsive

immune to all pleas

especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease

immune to diphtheria

2

a

: produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response

immune agglutinins

immune globulins

b

: having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen

an immune serum

3

a

: marked by protection

some criminal leaders are immune from arrest

b

: free, exempt

immune from further taxation

immune noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it 'immune to' or 'immune from'?

In most cases, if you are immune to something, it has no effect on you—for example, you might be immune to a disease or to criticism. If you are immune from something, it cannot reach you—for example, you might be immune from prosecution in a plea bargain.

What is the immune system?

The immune system is what protects your body from diseases and infections. It's the bodily system that produces the immune response to defend your body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues. The immune system includes various parts of the body including the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (such as those in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), macrophages, lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies.

What is herd immunity?

The term herd immunity refers to a reduction in the likelihood of someone catching a specific infectious disease because a significant proportion of the people in that person's community are immune to it. If you are less likely to come in contact with an infectious person, you're less likely to get infected yourself. The people in a community can be immune to a particular disease especially through previous exposure or vaccination.

Examples of immune in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those who are not immunized and were exposed less than a week ago should talk to a healthcare provider about vaccination or immune globulin for prevention. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

As research increasingly explores how the gut microbiome may affect everything from digestion and immune function to metabolism and brain health, many of us are better recognizing its influence and importance. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

This could mean a once-a-week sniff could ward off a range of pathogens better than a vaccine, blocking them before the body has to mount an immune defense. — New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2026

GlycanAge measures biomarkers reflecting immune function, and microbiome clocks estimate the aging of the gut. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin immunis, from in- + munia services, obligations; akin to Latin munus service — more at mean

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Phrases Containing immune

• acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• hyper-immune
• immune-compromised
• immune response
• immune surveillance
• immune system
• intravenous immune globulin

Rhymes for immune

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• impugn
• jejune

Kids Definition

immune

adjective

im·​mune im-ˈyün 

1

: exempt entry 1

immune from punishment

2

a

: not influenced by something

immune to persuasion

b

: having a high degree of resistance to an illness or disease

3

: containing or producing antibodies

Medical Definition

immune

1 of 2 adjective

im·​mune im-ˈyün 

1

: not susceptible or responsive

especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease

immune to diphtheria

2

a

: having or producing antibodies or lymphocytes capable of reacting with a specific antigen

an immune serum

b

: produced by, involved in, or concerned with immunity or an immune response

immune agglutinins

immune

2 of 2 noun

: an immune individual

Legal Definition

immune

adjective

im·​mune i-ˈmyün 

: having immunity : exempt