gamma globulin

noun

1

: a protein fraction of blood rich in antibodies

2

: a sterile solution of gamma globulin from pooled human blood administered especially for passive immunity against measles, German measles, infectious hepatitis, or polio

Examples of gamma globulin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The image showed children lined up to receive gamma globulin shots, not the polio vaccine. —New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022

Convalescent plasma or gamma globulin — antibodies distilled from the blood of healthy donors — may also help immunocompromised people, although a version of the latter that includes antibodies to the coronavirus is still months from availability. —Apoorva Mandavilli New York Times, Star Tribune, 22 Apr. 2021

That included infusions of gamma globulin every three weeks. —New York Times, 15 Apr. 2021

If treated promptly, with fever-reducing drugs and intravenous gamma globulin — which contains antibodies from blood plasma — Kawasaki disease usually has few long-term effects. —Matt Schudel, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2020

Jessica received monthly gamma globulin infusions for the last three years. —Nancy Coltun Webster, Post-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gamma globulin

noun

1

: a part of blood plasma that is rich in antibodies

2

: a solution of gamma globulin made by mixing blood from human blood donors and given to provide immunity against some infectious diseases (as measles and German measles)

Medical Definition

gamma globulin

noun

1

a

: a protein fraction of blood rich in antibodies

b

: a sterile solution of gamma globulin from pooled human blood administered especially for passive immunity against measles, German measles, hepatitis A, or polio

2

: any of numerous globulins of blood plasma or serum that have less electrophoretic mobility at alkaline pH than serum albumins, alpha globulins, or beta globulins and that include most antibodies