Immunosuppression

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process that diminishes the activity of the immune system, which may result from medical interventions or illnesses and can increase vulnerability to pathogens
2. A state in which the immune defenses are lowered due to treatments or conditions, making individuals more prone to infectious diseases
3. A condition characterized by a reduced immune response resulting from various therapeutic treatments or pathological conditions, which can lead to heightened susceptibility to infections and diseases

Etymology: Immunosuppression is a compound built from two parts with very different histories. "Immune" came into English in the Middle Ages through Middle French, ultimately from Latin "immunis," meaning "exempt from public service or duties," a sense rooted in "munus," a word for an obligation or service. The medical sense of protection from disease arrived much later, so the modern meaning of "immune" is a long-distance shift from a legal exemption. The second part, "suppression," traces back through Latin "suppressio" to "supprimere," literally "to press down from below," combining "sub" (under) with "premere" (to press). Its core idea is pressing something down or holding it back, which is exactly what the prefix "immuno-" describes: pressing down the body's defences. The combined term is simply a modern medical formation, built from these existing parts.

Synonyms: immune suppression, inhibition of immunity