What does immune mean?
Immune describes something that is not affected by a disease, harmful substance, influence, or other threat. It is most often used with the preposition “to,” as in “immune to infection,” and can refer to a person, animal, organism, or system. The word also has figurative uses: someone described as immune to criticism may ignore or withstand negative comments, while a person immune to pressure may remain calm under difficult circumstances. In legal and administrative contexts, immune can mean exempt from a duty or liability. The adjective derives from the Latin immunis, meaning “free from” or “exempt,” originally in the sense of being free from legal obligations. It is related to immunity, immunization, and immunology, the branches of study and practice concerned with the body’s defenses against disease.
adjectiveNot affected by or resistant to a particular disease, harmful substance, influence, or other threat. In figurative use, it means unaffected by or indifferent to something such as criticism, pressure, or temptation.
- Not susceptible to a disease or harmful influence.
- Figuratively, unaffected by criticism, pressure, temptation, or another external force.
- Protected or exempt from a duty, liability, or consequence.
"The new strain appears to be immune to the effects of the heat."
"No species is completely immune to the effects of climate change."
"Years of experience had made him seemingly immune to criticism."
From the Latin immunis, meaning “free from,” immune originally described legal exemption before it became associated with protection from disease.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does immune come from?
Immune comes from Latin immunis, meaning “free from” or “exempt,” especially free from legal obligations. English borrowed the word in the 16th century, initially in legal contexts, before its medical use developed. Its later connection with disease led to the establishment of immunity and the scientific field of immunology.
Related word forms
How immune is actually used
The usual constructions are “immune to” and “immune from,” with “immune to” being especially common in modern usage. The figurative sense is standard but can sometimes suggest indifference or an inability to be influenced by criticism or consequences.
Easily confused with immune
Immune means resistant or unaffected by a threat, whereas immortal means incapable of dying or permanently enduring.