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

Gavi has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to immunize 500 million children and save 8 million more lives by 2030. —Jennifer Lotito, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Last year, uninsured adults were able to get free vaccines through the federal Bridge Access Program, where people could get immunized at federally qualified health centers, as well as CVS and Walgreens. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024

The two cases stem from the implosion of a plea deal last summer that would have immunized the first son from future potential charges. —Linda Feldmann, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2024

Second, the best way to ensure most children are immunized is for teams to visit each house, guided by detailed maps showing where children live. —Byleslie Roberts, science.org, 10 Sep. 2024

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