immunize

verb

im·​mu·​nize ˈi-myə-ˌnīz 

immunized; immunizing; immunizes

transitive verb

: to make (someone or something) immune to something : to provide with protection against or immunity from something

… the investigation has been slowed by the refusal of seven former and current Hughes officials to cooperate unless immunized from prosecution.

—Andy Pasztor and Rick Wartzman

Budding novelists immunize themselves against rejection by recalling rebuffs endured by even the most successful novelists …

—Edwin McDowell

specifically : to make (a living organism) immune or resistant to a disease or pathogenic agent especially by inoculation : to create immunity in (as with a vaccine)

Measles can be almost completely controlled when adequate numbers of people within a population are immunized.

—Scientific American Medicine

… immunizing as many citizens as possible before an outbreak makes sense …

—Shannon Brownlee

Examples of immunize in a Sentence

Many people had to be immunized after being exposed to the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is important during active epidemics when public-health officials are widely immunizing people, while at the same time trying to isolate infectious individuals. —Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025

Curcumin has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunizing health benefits, among others.1 6 Benefits of Golden Turmeric Tea (With or Without Milk) Turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, particularly in Ayurveda, for its potential health benefits. —Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025

People who aren’t immunized are at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after their exposure. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Advertisement None of that has immunized the lowly smelt from its most obdurate enemy: partisan folly. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

immunize

verb

im·​mu·​nize ˈim-yə-ˌnīz 

immunized; immunizing

: to make immune

have been immunized against polio

Medical Definition

immunize

transitive verb

im·​mu·​nize

variants also British immunise

ˈim-yə-ˌnīz 

immunized also British immunised; immunizing also British immunising

: to make immune

Legal Definition

immunize

transitive verb

im·​mu·​nize ˈi-myə-ˌnīz 

immunized; immunizing

: to grant immunity to

the ultimately ill-fated effort to immunize state judges from the burdens of the federal income tax

—J. K. Owens

immunization

ˌi-myə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

noun