immunosuppressive
1 of 2adjective
im·mu·no·sup·pres·sive ˌi-myə-nō-sə-ˈpre-siv 
i-ˌmyü-nō-
: causing or characterized by immunosuppression
This pneumonia is characteristically an opportunistic infection, occurring in people whose immune system has been profoundly impaired by cancer or by powerful immunosuppressive drugs.
William L. Heyward and James W. Curran
William L. Heyward and James W. CurranProgression of conditions associated with human papillomavirus, such as cutaneous warts, is common in patients receiving long-term immunosuppressive therapy after transplantation. Nektarios I. Lountzis et al.
Nektarios I. Lountzis et al.immunosuppressive
2 of 2noun
plural immunosuppressives
: immunosuppressant
The trials may also be too risky for people who are severely immunocompromised—i.e., you have cancer or take immunosuppressives. Julia Ries
Julia Ries
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
immuno- + suppressive, after immunosuppression
Noun
derivative of immunosuppressive entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
1963, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1965, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
immunosuppressive 1 of 2
adjective
im·mu·no·sup·pres·sive ˌim-yə-nō-sə-ˈpres-iv im-ˌyü-nō-
im-ˌyü-nō- : causing or characterized by immunosuppression
… graft-versus-host disease strikes the skin, gut, liver and lymph tissues and can lead to death unless rapidly brought under control by immunosuppressive drugs. Joan Arehart-Treichel, Science News
Joan Arehart-Treichel, Science NewsThese drugs may also have immunosuppressive actions, which may contribute to their ability to induce permanent remissions of Graves' disease. Kiyoshi Hashizume et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Kiyoshi Hashizume et al., The New England Journal of Medicineimmunosuppressive
2 of 2noun
: immunosuppressant