What does immunology mean?
Immunology is the branch of biology and medicine that studies the immune system, the body's defences against infection and other harmful agents. It examines immune cells, antibodies, tissues, and signalling processes, as well as what happens when the immune system responds excessively, inadequately, or against the body itself. The field is closely connected with vaccination, infectious disease, allergy, autoimmunity, and transplantation. In academic and professional contexts, immunology usually names an area of research or study. Its importance is evident in the development of vaccines and therapies for diseases ranging from common infections to immune-mediated conditions. Understanding immunology also provides insight into how the body recognises and remembers threats, making the discipline relevant not only to medicine but also to biology and public health.
nounThe branch of biology and medicine concerned with the immune system, including its structure, function, response to infection, and the development of immune disorders.
- The scientific study of the immune system and immune responses.
"The researcher studies immunology to understand how the body defends itself against disease."
"Advances in immunology have led to vaccines and treatments for infectious and autoimmune diseases."
"She specialised in immunology before moving into clinical research."
The plural is uncommon; immunology is normally used as a singular field name. A plural may occur when referring to different systems or approaches of immunology in technical discussion.
"The conference brought together specialists working in several immunologies."
Immunology is the science of the body's defence network: it studies how immune cells recognize threats, remember previous infections, and sometimes mistakenly attack the body itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does immunology come from?
Immunology combines the English adjective immune, ultimately from Latin immunis, meaning free from or exempt, with the Greek-derived suffix -logy, meaning the study of. The related Latin noun immunitas contributed to English immunity, while the field's name reflects the scientific study of immunity and immune responses. The terminology became especially prominent in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as microbiology and experimental medicine developed.
Related word forms
How immunology is actually used
Usually used as a field of study or academic discipline. In medical and scientific contexts, it can refer both to immunology as a subject and to the body of knowledge about immune responses.