immunity
/ɪˈmjuːnɪti
/noun (plural immunities)
1 [mass noun] The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells: immunity to typhoid seems to have increased spontaneously...
- Women who develop immunity to the infection before pregnancy are not in danger of transmitting it to their babies.
- Experiencing tetanus does not itself produce immunity to a second infection.
- They also may have lower immunity to infection than older family members, plus increased viral shedding and longer duration of illness.
Synonyms
resistance to, resilience to, non-susceptibility to, lack of susceptibility to, protection from, ability to fight off, ability to withstand, ability to counteract, defences against;
immunization against, inoculation against
2Protection or exemption from something, especially an obligation or penalty: the rebels were given immunity from prosecution...
- Even in situations where an undertaking does not qualify for a total immunity from a fine penalties may be reduced.
- It could be an immunity from a government action - for instance, my right to free speech bars the government from punishing me for speaking.
- It seems to me that the stauncher first world proponents of globalisation feel a personal immunity from its vicissitudes.
Synonyms
exemption, exception, freedom, release, impunity, dispensation, exoneration;
non-liability for
informal a let-off
rare derogation
indemnity, privilege, prerogative, special treatment, right, liberty, licence, permission;
asylum;
legal exemption, impunity, protection, freedom;
French carte blanche
Law, historical droit
2.1 Law Officially granted exemption from legal proceedings or liability.There is no issue between the parties with respect to the applicable legal principles relating to the immunity granted an expert witness in legal proceedings....
- Either a party to a tribunal or legal proceedings is granted immunity or he is not.
- Today, he and his accomplices are beginning to lose the legal immunity they granted themselves.
2.2Lack of susceptibility, especially to something unwelcome or harmful: products must have an adequate level of immunity to interference...
- Natural combativeness, an innate immunity to being cowed by the biggest names or the biggest occasions in football, is obviously a vital part of the equipment he carries on to the field.
- But they also promise a partial immunity to the passage of time.
- It appeared, however, as if she herself had acquired a unique immunity to invective and insult so long as she could lay her hands on something to stitch.
Origin
Late Middle English: in the sense 'exemption (from a liability'): from Latin immunitas, from immunis (see immune).