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Webster 1913 Edition


Immunity

Im-mu′ni-ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Immunities
(#)
.
[L.
immunitas
, fr.
immunis
free from a public service; pref.
im-
not +
munis
complaisant, obliging, cf.
munus
service, duty: cf. F.
immunité
. See
Common
, and cf.
Mean
,
Adj.
]
1.
Freedom or exemption from any charge, duty, obligation, office, tax, imposition, penalty, or service; a particular privilege;
as, the
immunities
of the free cities of Germany; the
immunities
of the clergy.
2.
Freedom; exemption;
as,
immunity
from error
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Immunity

IMMU'NITY

,
Noun.
[L. immuinitas, from immunis, free, exempt; in and munus,charge, office, duty.]
1.
Freedom or exemption from obligation. To be exempted from observing the rites or duties of the church, is an immunity.
2.
Exemption from any charge, duty, office, tax or imposition; a particular privilege; as the immunities of the free cities of Germany; the immunities of the clergy.
3.
Freedom; as an immunity from error.

Definition 2024


immunity

immunity

English

Noun

immunity (countable and uncountable, plural immunities)

  1. (uncountable) The state of being insusceptible to something; notably:
    1. (medicine) Fully protective resistance against infection.
      Some people have better immunity to diseases than others.
    2. (law) An exemption from specified duties, such as payments or services.
      Feudal privileges often included tax and other immunities.
    3. (law) An exemption from prosecution.
      The prosecutor offered the lieutenant immunity for all the crimes he would testify having known to be planned by the elusive drug baron.
    4. (in games and competitions) An exemption given to a player from losing or being withdrawn from play.
      After winning the last round the player was granted immunity which allowed him to stay in the game even after receiving the least amount of points.
  2. (countable) A resistance to a specific thing.

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