Immune
adjective /ɪˈmjuːn/ — Protected from infection; resistant to a particular threat
Definition
Protected from or resistant to a particular disease, infection, or influence — either through prior exposure, vaccination, or innate biological resistance. Also used metaphorically: immune to criticism, to charm, to certain feelings.
Beyond the definition
Immune is both the body's greatest gift and a kind of armour that can limit as well as protect. To be emotionally immune is to have defended against hurt at the cost of being open to beauty.
Origin & history
Latin: immunis (exempt from public service, free from obligation). From in- (not) + munus (duty, service). Originally: free from obligation or tax. Applied to biological resistance from the 17th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She'd had it as a child and was now immune — the illness couldn't touch her.
He seemed immune to criticism, which made him both confident and impossible to help.
No one is fully immune to loneliness. The armour just makes it harder to recognise.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Immune” when the meaning fits your context: Protected from or resistant to a particular disease, infection, or influence — either through prior exposure, vaccination, or innate biological resistance. Also used metaphorically: immune to criticism, to charm, to certain feelings.
Synonyms
protected, resistant, invulnerable
Antonyms
susceptible, vulnerable, exposed
Related words
Immune vs resistant
Immune implies a specific biological defense against a disease. Resistant is a broader term for the ability to withstand an external influence, like a material or a bacteria.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Protected from External Storms
An adult is curled up in a room with a book while rain streaks the glass.
The physical barrier between the storm and the cozy interior provides safety from the outside environment. This reflects the concept of being immune, where one is protected from the influence of external forces, whether viral, environmental, or social.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Immune" mean?
Immune is adjective meaning: Protected from infection; resistant to a particular threat. Protected from or resistant to a particular disease, infection, or influence — either through prior exposure, vaccination, or innate biological resistance. Also used metaphorically: immune to criticism, to charm, to certain feelings.
Where does the word "Immune" come from?
Latin: immunis (exempt from public service, free from obligation). From in- (not) + munus (duty, service). Originally: free from obligation or tax. Applied to biological resistance from the 17th century.