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immunity

Etymology and origin of the English word immunity

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1382
Borrowed from
Old French immunité via Middle English
Ultimate origin
Latin (mūnis)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ɪˈmjuː.nə.ti/, US /ɪˈmjuː.nə.t̬i/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English ymmunite, probably borrowed from Old French immunité (“privilege, inviolability”) and directly Latin immūnitās (“exemption from public service or charges”),[2][3] from immūnis (“exempt, free”) (see immune), from in- (“not”) and mūnis (“performing services”) (see common).[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Exemption from a service, obligation, tax or law: 1382 in the OED, about 1384 in the Wycliffe Bible in Barnhart.[6][2]

Semantic evolution

The exemption of the clergy and church property from secular authority is from 1513,[6] and a particular privilege from 1538.[6] Freedom from any natural liability is from 1592.[6] The medical sense, protection from infectious disease, is from 1879, borrowed from French or German medical use.[2][3][6] Immune is from about 1440, meaning free or exempt.[2]

Timeline

  • 1382 – exemption from duties.[6]
  • c. 1440 – immune, exempt.[2]
  • 1513 – church immunity.[6]
  • 1592 – freedom from a liability.[6]
  • 1879 – immunity from disease.[2][6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The ability of an organism to resist a disease or infection.
  2. Exemption from normal legal duties, penalties or liabilities, as granted to diplomats.
  3. The quality or condition of being immune.

Word family

  • hyperimmunity
  • nonimmunity
  • immunize
  • immuno-
  • immunology
  • herd immunity
  • use immunity
  • cell-mediated immunity

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Immunity.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/immunity. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·