the ability of an organism to resist disease, either through the activities of specialized blood cells or antibodies produced by them in response to natural exposure or inoculation (active immunity) or by the injection of antiserum or the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her baby via the placenta or breast milk (passive immunity)
See also acquired immunity, natural immunity
2.
freedom from obligation or duty, esp exemption from tax, duty, legal liability, etc
3.
any special privilege granting immunity
4.
the exemption of ecclesiastical persons or property from various civil obligations or liabilities
Examples of 'immunities' in a sentence
immunities
That helps regulate development of the intestine and build up immunities.
The Sun (2010)
But destroying experts' open-court immunities is not the way to go about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There is a worrying supposition that those in high places should have special immunities because of the pressureson them.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What this means is a restoration of union legal immunities and protectionist and job-destroying measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The availability of conditional immunities may provide prosecutors with an opportunity to create conflict between individual and corporate defendants.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If you use fungicide for mildew on roses, vary the chemical you use so that immunities are not built up.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Legal immunities had turned the trade unions into 'insiders' against the interestsof the public.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Special missions could not be expected to perform their role without the functional protection afforded by the core immunities.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
All related terms of 'immunities'
immunity
the ability of an organism to resist disease, either through the activities of specialized blood cells or antibodies produced by them in response to natural exposure or inoculation ( active immunity ) or by the injection of antiserum or the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her baby via the placenta or breast milk ( passive immunity )
herd immunity
the immunity that occurs when an entire group of animals or people become immune to a particular infection , as with universal vaccination
tax immunity
the fact of being immune from taxation
acquired immunity
the immunity produced by exposure of an organism to antigens , which stimulates the production of antibodies
natural immunity
immunity with which an individual is born, which has a genetic basis
diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is the freedom from legal action and from paying taxes that a diplomat has in the country in which he or she is working .
cell-mediated immunity
immunity independent of antibody but dependent on the recognition of antigen by T cells and their subsequent destruction of cells bearing the antigen or on the secretion by T cells of lymphokines that enhance the ability of phagocytes to eliminate the antigen
antibody-mediated immunity
immunity conferred to an individual through the activity of B cells and their progeny , which produce circulating antibodies in response to the presence of a foreign substance and recognize the substance upon renewed exposure