antigenically
|an-ti-gen-ic-al-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˈæn.tɪ.dʒən/
🇬🇧
/ˈæn.tɪ.dʒ(ə)n/
(antigenic)
relating to antigen
Etymology
'antigenically' originates from English, formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ically' to the adjective 'antigenic', where 'antigenic' is formed from 'antigen' + '-ic'.
'antigen' was coined in the early 20th century in immunology; 'antigen' combined with the adjective suffix '-ic' produced 'antigenic', and later the adverbial suffix '-ally'/'-ically' produced 'antigenically'.
Initially, 'antigen' denoted a substance that stimulated antibody formation; over time the meaning broadened to 'a substance that elicits or is recognized by the immune system', and 'antigenic/antigenically' came to mean 'relating to these antigen properties'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance (or part of a substance) that is recognized by the immune system and can provoke an immune response (definition of 'antigen', related to 'antigenic').
An antigen can stimulate the production of specific antibodies.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of an antigen; capable of inducing an immune response or reacting with immune products. (This is the base form of 'antigenically'.)
Scientists measured antigenic differences between virus isolates.
Synonyms
Adverb 1
in a manner relating to antigens or to antigenic properties; with respect to antigenic similarity or differences.
The vaccine strain was antigenically distinct from last year's circulating strain.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/01 13:20