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
Gavi is the global initiative that funds and delivers vaccines to the world’s poorest countries — and this week’s goal is to raise enough to immunize 500 million children and save 8 million lives by 2030.
—Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
In two small clinical trials, 7 to 18 percent of participants developed rashes and other skin reactions after getting the shots—including multiple cases of chronic hives that troubled volunteers for months after they were immunized.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 31 May 2025
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases adds that all adults born in 1957 or later who have not been vaccinated or have not had measles should be immunized.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 May 2025
Also, many are deeply concerned that a Supreme Court than has largely immunized the president from criminal proceedings would give him a third term should the public elect him.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for immunize
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Michael Sheldrick, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
In two small clinical trials, 7 to 18 percent of participants developed rashes and other skin reactions after getting the shots—including multiple cases of chronic hives that troubled volunteers for months after they were immunized.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 31 May 2025
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases adds that all adults born in 1957 or later who have not been vaccinated or have not had measles should be immunized.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 May 2025
Also, many are deeply concerned that a Supreme Court than has largely immunized the president from criminal proceedings would give him a third term should the public elect him.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 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 7 Jul. 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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