immunity

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​ty i-ˈmyü-nə-tē 

plural immunities

: the quality or state of being immune

especially : a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products see also active immunity, passive immunity

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it 'immune to' or 'immune from'?

In most cases, if you are immune to something, it has no effect on you—for example, you might be immune to a disease or to criticism. If you are immune from something, it cannot reach you—for example, you might be immune from prosecution in a plea bargain.

What is the immune system?

The immune system is what protects your body from diseases and infections. It's the bodily system that produces the immune response to defend your body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues. The immune system includes various parts of the body including the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (such as those in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), macrophages, lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies.

What is herd immunity?

The term herd immunity refers to a reduction in the likelihood of someone catching a specific infectious disease because a significant proportion of the people in that person's community are immune to it. If you are less likely to come in contact with an infectious person, you're less likely to get infected yourself. The people in a community can be immune to a particular disease especially through previous exposure or vaccination.

Synonyms

• exemption
• impunity

Examples of immunity in a Sentence

They have developed immunity to the virus.

They have developed an immunity to the virus.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mary would go on to be charged with Gary Hinman's murder but received immunity in exchange for testifying against Manson and his followers Susan Atkins and Bobby Beausoleil. —Jessica Sager, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Specifically, the Free Press learned that early on, while building its historic case against the parents, the prosecutor's office had offered immunity to Hopkins and Ejak. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 18 Nov. 2024

Chandhok, the prosecution’s star witness — who, like Caple, received immunity for his testimony — vouched earlier this week that Becker had leaked him the report. —Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

The Boulder judge found that because the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act was created in addition to — not instead of — common law immunity, the latter still exists and applies despite the 2020 reform, because the 2020 law did not explicitly wipe away common law immunity. —Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing immunity

• active immunity
• community immunity
• diplomatic immunity
• herd immunity
• passive immunity
• qualified immunity

Kids Definition

immunity

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​ty im-ˈyü-nət-ē 

plural immunities

1

: exemption sense 1

2

: bodily power to resist an infectious disease that usually results from vaccination or inoculation, a previous attack of the disease, or a natural resistance

Medical Definition

immunity

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​ty im-ˈyü-nət-ē 

plural immunities

: the quality or state of being immune

especially : a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products see acquired immunity, active immunity, natural immunity, passive immunity

Legal Definition

immunity

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​ty i-ˈmyü-nə-tē 

plural immunities

1

: exemption from a duty or liability that is granted by law to a person or class of persons

a defendant may not take the stand in his own behalf and then claim immunity from cross-examination

—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

also : the affirmative defense of having such an exemption

— absolute immunity

: immunity from all personal civil liability without limits or conditions (as a requirement of good faith) compare qualified immunity in this entry

— charitable immunity

: immunity from civil liability especially for negligent torts that is granted to a charitable or nonprofit organization (as a hospital)

— constitutional immunity

: immunity (as from a tax) that is granted or created by a constitution (as the U.S. Constitution)

— corporate immunity

: immunity from personal liability for tortious acts that is granted to an officer of a corporation who acted in good faith and within the course of his or her duties see also business judgment rule compare pierce

— diplomatic immunity

: immunity (as from taxes or prosecution) granted to a diplomat

— discovery immunity

: immunity sense 2

— discretionary immunity

: qualified immunity from civil liability for tortious acts or omissions that arise from a government employee's discretionary acts performed as part of the employee's duties see also the Federal Tort Claims Act

Note: The Federal Tort Claims Act includes an additional requirement of acting in good faith for the discretionary immunity granted to the federal government.

— executive immunity

: immunity granted to officers of the executive branch of government from personal liability for tortious acts or omissions done in the course of carrying out their duties

Note: While the president's executive immunity is absolute, the immunity of other federal executive officials is qualified.

— governmental immunity

: discretionary immunity granted to a governmental unit (as an agency) or its employees

broadly : sovereign immunity in this entry

— judicial immunity

: absolute immunity from civil liability that is granted to judges and other court officers (as prosecutors and grand juries) and quasi-judicial officials for tortious acts or omissions done within the scope of their jurisdiction or authority

— legislative immunity

: absolute immunity from civil liability that is granted to legislators for tortious acts or omissions done in the course of legislative activities see also speech or debate clause

— official immunity

: discretionary immunity from personal liability that is granted to public officers for tortious acts and omissions compare governmental immunity in this entry

— qualified immunity

: immunity from civil liability that is conditioned or limited (as by a requirement of good faith or due care)

specifically : official immunity from damages for acts that violate another's civil rights that is granted if it can be shown that the acts do not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would be aware see also Civil Rights Act

— sovereign immunity

: the absolute immunity of a sovereign government (as a state) from being sued see also Federal Tort Claims Act

Note: For an action to be brought against a state or the federal government, sovereign immunity must be waived by the government.

— transactional immunity \ tran-​ˈzak-​shə-​nəl-​, -​ˈsak-​ \

: immunity from criminal prosecution granted to a witness for an offense related to his or her compelled testimony see also use immunity in this entry

— use immunity

: immunity granted to a witness in a criminal case that prevents the use of the witness's compelled testimony against that witness in a criminal prosecution

Note: Transactional and use immunity are granted to preserve the constitutional protection against self-incrimination. The states grant either form of this immunity, while the federal government grants only use immunity. A witness with use immunity may still be prosecuted, but only based on evidence not gathered from the protected testimony.

2

: a usually statutory prohibition that excludes specific documents or information from discovery

called also discovery immunity

Etymology

Latin immunitas, from immunis exempt from public service, exempt, from in- non- + -munis (from munia services)