immunologically
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪmjˌuːnəlˈɒdʒɪklɪ/
US
- /ɪmjˌuːnəlˈɑːdʒɪkli/
Description
- in terms of the immune system
- in relation to immune defenses
- by immune response
If your body fights off a cold without you even feeling sick, it is working *immunologically. The word describes anything that happens in relation to the immune system, the part of the body that helps protect you from disease. It is not just about vaccines, though vaccines are part of it. These processes happen when your body responds to a virus, heals after damage, or reacts to something like pollen. Scientists use "immunologically" when talking about how the immune system works, what sets it off, and how it can be guided to help fight disease. For example, researchers might study immunologically* different groups of cells to understand why some people get sicker than others.
"Immunologically" is an adverb that describes actions, changes, or qualities related to immunology, the branch of biology that studies the immune system. It often appears in scientific and medical writing. You can think of immunology as the study of the body's defense system, and "immunologically" as describing things from the point of view of that system.
It goes beyond simply preventing illness. A person can react *immunologically in ways that are helpful, like building protection after vaccination, or harmful, like in an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. Scientists use this term when discussing how substances, cells, or treatments affect the body's defenses. For example, a medical implant might be described as immunologically* inert, meaning it is designed not to trigger an immune response.
You will often encounter "immunologically" in research papers and medical reports. A study might ask whether a new drug changes the body's response to a tumor *immunologically, or explore why certain viruses are immunologically similar to one another. In general, if something relates to how the body recognizes and responds to threats such as viruses, bacteria, cancer cells, or foreign substances, it is being viewed immunologically*. It is a useful word for understanding health, disease, and the complexity of the body's internal defenses.
Examples
- 1
Transplant compatibility
The donor and the patient were not immunologically compatible, so the transplant could not go ahead.
Phrase
immunologically compatible
unlikely to trigger a harmful immune reaction
- 2
Newborn immunity
Newborn babies are still immunologically immature, so doctors watch infections closely.
- 3
Virus exposure
After years without exposure, the population was largely immunologically naive to the virus.
Pattern
immunologically naive to + disease
not having built up immune protection against it
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- immunologicallyadverb