Definition of: immunity

(i·my′nə·tē) noun plural ·ties
1. Freedom or exemption, as from a penalty, burden, duty, or evil, such as the exemption of ecclesiastical persons and places from duties and burdens thought unbecoming their sacred character: followed by from.
2. Med. Exemption from contagion or infection or from liability to suffer from epidemic or endemic disease. It may be active through the formation of specific antibodies in the organism, or passive through the effect of a serum injected from another organism. See synonyms under RIGHT. [<OF immunité <L immunitas <immunis exempt <in- not + munis serviceable <munus service, duty]