immune

American  

[ih-myoon] / ɪˈmyun /

adjective

1. protected from a disease or the like, as by inoculation or by having the necessary antibodies due to a previous infection (often followed byto ).

   Most adults in the study were immune to yellow fever due to previous vaccination.

   Since I had already had measles, I assumed I was immune.

2. of or relating to the production of antibodies or lymphocytes that can react with a specific antigen.

   Crohn's disease is an abnormal immune reaction that causes the immune system to attack cells in the lining of the digestive tract.

3. exempt or protected.

   He thought being rich made him immune from punishment, but he went to jail for his crimes.

4. not responsive or susceptible.

   Over time writers are supposed to grow immune to criticism and let bad reviews roll off our backs.

   You're certainly highly resistant to argument, and also immune to new ideas.

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noun

1. a person who is immune.

immune British  

/ ɪˈmjuːn /

adjective

1. protected against a specific disease by inoculation or as the result of innate or acquired resistance

2. relating to or conferring immunity See antibody

   an immune body

3. unsusceptible (to) or secure (against)

   immune to inflation

4. exempt from obligation, penalty, etc

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noun

1. an immune person or animal

Other Word Forms

• hyperimmune adjective
• nonimmune adjective

Etymology

Origin of immune

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin immūnis “exempt,” from im- im- ² + -mūnis ( common )

Explanation

To be immune to something is to be resistant to it. If you had chickenpox as a child, you should be immune to it now. The adjective immune comes from the Latin word immunis, which means “exempt from public service.” If you're protected — or exempt — from disease, injury, work, insults, or accusations, then you're immune. Vaccinations serve to make people immune to certain diseases. Being a diplomat makes people immune to certain legal persecution. To be immune to bullying means that you don’t let the bad behavior of your peers get you down.

Example Sentences

“After the recent sell-off in software stocks, investors are looking for companies immune to AI disruption, such as ‘real economy’ businesses,” says Matthew Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

The takeaway: the market is accepting that even the dominant and pioneering Nvidia isn’t immune to competition.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

"By learning how to control the power source of our immune cells, we may be able to unlock therapies that are both more natural and more effective."

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

"Children are not immune to what's going on in society, worrying about whether parents are in a steady job or not, precarious housing, family responsibility, taking younger siblings to school," said Campbell.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The party that followed the Harvest Conclave was one for the record books, and no one was immune to Goddard’s contagious energy.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• exempt
• resistant
• unaffected