Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure
immunization Audio
im·mu·ni·za·tion [ im-yuh-nuh-zey-shuhn, ih-myoo- ]
Subclass of:
Communicable Disease Control; Immunologic Techniques; Primary Prevention; Immunotherapy
Also called:
Vaccination
Definitions related to immunization:
  • A technique used to cause an immune response that results in resistance to a specific disease, especially an infectious disease.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Deliberate induction of host immunity.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Deliberate stimulation of the host's immune response. ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of ANTIGENS or IMMUNOLOGIC ADJUVANTS. PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION involves administration of IMMUNE SERA or LYMPHOCYTES or their extracts (e.g., transfer factor, immune RNA) or transplantation of immunocompetent cell producing tissue (thymus or bone marrow).
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Injection of harmless bacteria or viruses to spur the body to produce antibodies so it can resist a particular disease.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • Inoculating an individual with either killed or live agents to prevent contraction of a disease.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (vaccines) Vaccines are injections (shots), liquids, pills, or nasal sprays that you take to teach your body's immune system to recognize and defend against harmful germs. For example, there are vaccines to protect against diseases caused by: Viruses, like the ones that cause the flu and COVID-19; Bacteria, including tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
    MedlinePlus
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • The introduction of an immunogen with the intent of stimulating an immune response, aimed at preventing subsequent infections by more viable agents.
    NCI Health Level 7 Vocabulary
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2018
  • Immunity can be achieved: Actively by using antigens (eg, vaccines, toxoids); or Passively by using antibodies (eg, immune globulins, antitoxins).
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
  • Immunization, process by which resistance to disease is acquired or induced in plants and animals. This discussion focuses on immunization against infectious diseases in vertebrate animals, specifically humans. Immunization may occur naturally, as when a person is exposed unintentionally to a...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.