passive immunity

noun

, Immunology.

1. immunity resulting from the injection of antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes from another organism or, in infants, from the transfer of antibodies through the placenta or from colostrum.

passive immunity

/ păs′ĭv /

1. See under acquired immunity

Word History and Origins

Origin of passive immunity¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Dunbar expected to confer passive immunity on the hay fever patient by transferring to him this horse serum with its antibodies.

From Project Gutenberg