immunize
gb/ˈɪmjunˌaɪz/ us/ˈɪmjunˌaɪz/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
protect by vaccination
to give someone a vaccine so they are protected from a disease
Usage pattern:
immunize [someone/an animal] against [a disease]
Common mistake:
Use “immunize someone against a disease,” not “immunize a disease.” British English also spells it “immunise.”
Synonyms
vaccinate (more common in everyday speech; specifically means give a vaccine)
|
inoculate (more formal or technical, also often refers to giving a vaccine)
Antonyms
leave unvaccinated (not give vaccine protection)
|
expose (put someone at risk rather than protect them)
Collocations
immunize children
|immunize infants
|immunize patients
|immunize against measles
|immunize against polio
|be fully immunized
|get immunized
|immunize the population
Themes
healthcare
|medicine
|public_health
Examples
- The clinic immunizes children against measles, mumps, and rubella.
- All dogs must be immunized against rabies before entering the country.
- A booster dose may be needed to fully immunize people with weaker immune systems.
Learner examples
- The nurse immunized the baby against polio.
- Have you been immunized against flu?
Verb
C1
action
2
protect from harmful influence
to protect someone or something from being harmed or influenced by something bad
Usage pattern:
immunize [someone/something] against/from [something harmful]
Common mistake:
This figurative use does not involve real medicine or vaccines.
Synonyms
protect (broader and more general)
|
shield (suggests blocking harm from reaching someone or something)
|
insulate (suggests separating someone or something from outside effects)
Antonyms
expose (make vulnerable to harm or influence)
|
leave vulnerable (fail to provide protection)
Collocations
immunize people against misinformation
|immunize children against propaganda
|immunize employees against phishing
|immunize investors against panic
|immunize a system against shocks
|immunize society from extremism
Themes
society
|risk
|security
|media
Examples
- Good media education can help immunize young people against misinformation.
- The company trained staff to immunize them against common phishing scams.
- Early criticism seemed to immunize the candidate from later attacks.
Learner examples
- The lesson helps immunize students against fake news.
- Strong passwords can immunize an account against some attacks.
Verb
legal
C2
action
3
grant legal immunity
to legally protect someone from being prosecuted or held responsible
Usage pattern:
immunize [someone/something] from/against [prosecution/liability/claims]
Common mistake:
In legal use, “immunize” means grant immunity; it does not mean vaccinate.
Synonyms
grant immunity to (clearer and more explicit legal wording)
|
exempt (means free someone or something from a rule or obligation)
|
shield (less technical; suggests protection from legal consequences)
Antonyms
prosecute (take legal action rather than protect from it)
|
hold liable (make legally responsible rather than protect from responsibility)
Collocations
immunize a witness
|immunize officials
|immunize a company from liability
|immunize against lawsuits
|immunize from prosecution
|immunize from legal claims
Themes
law
|government
|business
Examples
- The agreement immunized the witness from prosecution in exchange for truthful testimony.
- The statute may immunize companies from liability for certain user-generated content.
- A waiver cannot automatically immunize an employer against every legal claim.
Learner examples
- The court immunized the witness from prosecution.
- The law immunizes some volunteers from liability.
Grammar
Dictionary form
immunize
IPA
GB/ˈɪmjunˌaɪz/
US/ˈɪmjunˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
im - mun - ize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (im)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: immunize
- 3rd Person Singular: immunizes
- Present Participle: immunizing
- Past: immunized
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.