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monovalent

American  
[mon-uh-vey-luhnt] / ˌmɒn əˈveɪ lənt /

adjective

  1. Chemistry. univalent.

  2. Immunology.

    1. containing only one kind of antibody.

    2. pertaining to an antibody fragment with one antigen-binding site.


monovalent British  
/ ˌmɒnəʊˈveɪlənt /

adjective

  1. Also: univalentchem

    1. having a valency of one

    2. having only one valency

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

monovalent Scientific  
/ mŏn′ə-vālənt /
  1. Having a valence of 1; univalent.

  2. Containing antigens from a single strain of a microorganism or virus. Used of a vaccine or serum.


Other Word Forms

  • monovalence noun
  • monovalency noun

Etymology

Origin of monovalent

First recorded in 1865–70; mono- + -valent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some countries were indeed able to quash type 2 outbreaks with the monovalent vaccine.

From Science Magazine • May 7, 2024

In contrast, the three monovalent vaccines and previous XBB.1.5 infection were barely effective in blocking infection by BA.2.86.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2024

Tan said he agrees that a monovalent is best, in part because it's easier to produce and will be more accessible in countries of lower socioeconomic status.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2023

Likewise, FDA spokeswoman Abby Capobianco said that such claims tying the discontinuation of the monovalent shots to safety “are entirely false and without basis in fact.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2023

The words monovalent, divalent, trivalent, tretrava-lent, etc., were coined to express this most important fact, and the various elements came to be known as monads, diads, triads, etc.

From A History of Science — Volume 4 by Williams, Henry Smith