antigenic

American  

[an-tuh-jen-ik] / ˌæn təˈdʒɛn ɪk /

adjective

1. relating to antigens; being an antigen or having the properties of an antigen.

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Other Word Forms

• antigenically adverb
• antigenicity noun
• multi-antigenic adjective
• neoantigenic adjective
• non-antigenic adjective
• superantigenic adjective

Example Sentences

First, there’s antigenic drift, which happens in the genes of the virus over time as the virus reproduces.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2026

Specifically, Rajnarayanan said, this mutation’s significant antigenic drift, which is when the genes of a virus change, is “a real concern.”

From Salon • Nov. 28, 2025

Although there is no specific vaccine against monkeypox, the smallpox vaccine protects eight out of ten people from monkeypox infection due to the antigenic relatedness between the two viruses.

From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2024

In terms of figuring out a near-term vaccine formulation, however, the WHO advisory group noted XBB.1.16 has very small genetic and antigenic differences from XBB.1.5.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2023

Since there are so many of them, they can make collective guesses at almost anything antigenic on the surface of the earth, but they must do their work one notion at a time.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas