immunize
verb
im·mu·nize
ˈi-myə-ˌnīz 
immunized; immunizing; immunizes
: to make (someone or something) immune to something : to provide with protection against or immunity from something
… the investigation has been slowed by the refusal of seven former and current Hughes officials to cooperate unless immunized from prosecution.—
Andy Pasztor and Rick Wartzman
Andy Pasztor and Rick WartzmanBudding novelists immunize themselves against rejection by recalling rebuffs endured by even the most successful novelists …—Edwin McDowell
Edwin McDowell
specifically
: to make (a living organism) immune or resistant to a disease or pathogenic agent especially by inoculation : to create immunity in (as with a vaccine)
Measles can be almost completely controlled when adequate numbers of people within a population are immunized. —Scientific American Medicine
Scientific American Medicine … immunizing as many citizens as possible before an outbreak makes sense … —Shannon Brownlee
Shannon Brownlee Examples of immunize in a Sentence
Many people had to be immunized after being exposed to the disease.
Recent Examples on the Web
Further eroding prospects is Smoke’s conjecture, compliance with USMC won’t immunize imports if the tariffs are triggered on April 2.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
City health officials said people who may have been exposed and have not been immunized against the virus should contact their health care provider or health officials at 844-493-2652.
—Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
Outbreaks have become more common in recent years across communities where there are pockets of children or adults who are not immunized, said George Rust, co-director of Florida State University’s Center for Medicine and Public Health.
—Christopher O'Donnell, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Community-level protection—otherwise known as herd immunity—isn’t possible unless upwards of 90% of people are immunized.
—Alice Park, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immunize
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Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
City health officials said people who may have been exposed and have not been immunized against the virus should contact their health care provider or health officials at 844-493-2652.
—Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
Outbreaks have become more common in recent years across communities where there are pockets of children or adults who are not immunized, said George Rust, co-director of Florida State University’s Center for Medicine and Public Health.
—Christopher O'Donnell, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Community-level protection—otherwise known as herd immunity—isn’t possible unless upwards of 90% of people are immunized.
—Alice Park, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immunize
Cite this Entry
“Immunize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immunize. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
immunize
verb
im·mu·nize
ˈim-yə-ˌnīz
immunized; immunizing
: to make immune
have been immunized against polio
Medical Definition
immunize
transitive verb
im·mu·nize
variants
also British immunise
immunized also British immunised; immunizing also British immunising
: to make immune
Legal Definition
immunize
transitive verb
im·mu·nize
ˈi-myə-ˌnīz
immunized; immunizing
: to grant immunity to
the ultimately ill-fated effort to immunize state judges from the burdens of the federal income tax—J. K. Owens
J. K. OwensLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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