immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion ˌi-myə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

 also  i-ˌmyü-nə-

plural immunizations

: the act of making someone or something immune or the state of being immune : the act or result of immunizing someone or something: such as

a

: the production of immunity in a living organism against a disease or pathogenic agent

The plasmids used for immunization have been altered to carry genes specifying one or more antigenic proteins normally made by a selected pathogen …

—David B. Weiner et al.

also : treatment (as by vaccination) for the purpose of making an organism immune to a disease or pathogenic agent : the administration of an immune-producing substance

Measles is the single most infectious common disease—one person with measles who blunders into a crowded room will give it to almost everyone. If there were no immunization, measles would be universal.

—Wayne Biddle

Those benefits can include preventive care, such as annual physicals, immunizations, and well-baby visits.

—Consumer Reports

b

: the providing of protection or exemption from something harmful or unwanted (such as legal action)

immunization from liability

The Interior Department is negotiating with other private landowners to extend similar immunization from prosecution to those who agree to avoid activities that might hurt the bird's chances of survival.

—Ken Miller

Examples of immunization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Harris responds to Biden's 'garbage' comments Kennedy has been anti-vaccine activist and founded the Children's Health Defense, a prominent anti-vaccine nonprofit that has campaigned against immunizations and other public health measures like water fluoridation. —Will McDuffie, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, Harris is up to date on her immunizations and preventive care recommendations—including colonoscopies and mammograms. —Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 12 Oct. 2024

Since then, Gaza, like most other countries, has been using a bivalent version of OPV without the type 2 component in routine immunization and also the inactivated, or killed virus, polio vaccine. —Byleslie Roberts, science.org, 10 Sep. 2024

The latest evidence came last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said that the number of kindergarteners up-to-date on routine immunizations had yet again declined. —Lisa Jarvis, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion

ˌim-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən

: treatment (as with a vaccine) to produce immunity to a disease

Medical Definition

immunization

noun

im·​mu·​ni·​za·​tion

variants also British immunisation

ˌim-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

: the creation of immunity usually against a particular disease

especially : treatment (as by vaccination) of an organism for the purpose of making it immune to a particular pathogen

immunization against polio