herd-immune
|herd-im-mune|
🇺🇸
/hɜrd ɪˈmjun/
🇬🇧
/hɜːd ɪˈmjuːn/
(herd immunity)
group protection
Etymology
'herd-immune' originates from the concept of 'herd immunity', where 'herd' refers to a group and 'immune' means protected from disease.
The term 'herd immunity' was first used in the early 20th century in the context of infectious diseases and has evolved to include the adjective form 'herd-immune'.
Initially, it referred to the immunity of a group, but now it also describes the state of being protected due to the immunity of others.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
referring to a state where a significant portion of a population is immune to a disease, thereby providing indirect protection to those who are not immune.
The community became herd-immune after a successful vaccination campaign.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/05 20:14