immune response

noun

: a bodily response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify the antigenic molecule as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and lymphocytes capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless

called also immune reaction

Examples of immune response in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bacteria can shoot messages to human cells that tamp down antibacterial immune responses (opens a new tab). —Quanta Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024

That is, being infected with measles virus wipes out existing antibodies and immune responses to other germs, leaving people more vulnerable to other diseases. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024

Pollutants can also promote inflammation and other immune responses, which could interfere with cellular processes that replace old bone tissue with new, Prada’s team noted in 2020 in Environmental Research. —Bysanket Jain, science.org, 25 July 2024

This triggers an immune response, recruiting white blood cells and triggering inflammation. —David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

immune response

noun

: a bodily response to a foreign substance, cell, or tissue that involves the formation of antibodies and cells capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless

called also immune reaction

Medical Definition

immune response

noun

: a bodily response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify the antigenic molecule as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and lymphocytes capable of reacting with it and rendering it harmless

called also immune reaction