immunity
English meaning: Immunity
English Definition
(English)The immune system has two arms: innate immunity (immediate, non-specific defence — skin, mucus, inflammation) and adaptive immunity (specific response — B-cells produce antibodies; T-cells kill infected cells). Immunological memory allows faster response on re-exposure — the basis of vaccination. Herd immunity is achieved when enough of a population is immune to block disease transmission.
English Definition
The ability of an organism to resist infection by recognising and destroying pathogens. Immunity may be innate (non-specific defence present from birth) or adaptive (specific defence developed after exposure to a pathogen or vaccine).
Example
“COVID-19 vaccines confer immunity by training the immune system to recognise the spike protein without causing actual infection, enabling rapid response if exposed.”
In English: “Vaccines create immunity by exposing the immune system to a harmless antigen, enabling future protection.”
Synonyms
- resistance
- immunological protection
- defence
Antonyms / Opposites
- susceptibility
- vulnerability
- immunodeficiency
Literary Heritage
“Considering how common illness is, how tremendous the spiritual change that it brings, how astonishing, when the lights of health go down, the undiscovered countries that are then disclosed.”
“Considering how common illness is, how tremendous the spiritual change that it brings, how astonishing, when the lights of health go down, the undiscovered countries that are then disclosed.”
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
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