ENGLISH
REFERENCE

immunity

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪmˈjunəti// UK //ɪmjˈuːnɪti// im·mu·ni·ty

n. the ability of your body to fight off a specific infection or disease. It can also mean being officially protected from certain rules or punishments.

n. the physiological state of being resistant to a specific pathogen or toxin; also, a legal exemption from a duty, liability, or prosecution.


SIMPLE

Vaccines help your body build immunity against dangerous viruses.

CONTEXTUAL

The diplomat claimed diplomatic immunity to avoid paying the parking fines he received while working abroad.

COMPLEX

While natural immunity provides robust protection following an initial infection, the duration of such resistance varies significantly across different viral strains and individual immune responses.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English immunite, from Old French immunité, from Latin immūnitās, in the legal sense; for the medical use see immunization. Equivalent to immune + -ity.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general state of protection; countable when referring to specific types or legal exemptions.

Pitfall

immunity from the fluimmunity to the fluIn a medical context, use 'to' for the disease; 'from' is typically reserved for legal or formal exemptions like 'immunity from prosecution'.

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