Autoimmune Definition: Causes, Symptoms & Examples

Meaning 1：immune self-attack (autoimmune)

autoimmune 🔊

/ˌɔːtoʊɪˈmjuːn/

adj.

When the body's defense system (immune system) mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells and tissues.

Autoimmune immune cells attacking healthy tissue diagram

immune self-attack 🔊

➕

/ɪˈmjuːn sɛlf əˈtæk/

adj.

Pertaining to a condition where the body's immune system mistakenly targets and damages its own healthy cells and tissues, rather than foreign invaders.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

auto- (self) + immune (from Latin immunis 'exempt') → immune system attacks self.

💡 Mnemonic

Auto (self) + immune = your immune system's army attacks its own country (your body).

📖 Example

Living with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, means her joints often feel stiff and painful in the morning. 🔊 Living with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, means her joints often feel stiff and painful in the morning.

🔗 Collocations

autoimmune disease – a disease caused by immune system attacking self

autoimmune response – the immune reaction against self tissues

autoimmune condition – a medical condition involving autoimmunity

🔄 Synonyms

autoreactive (adj.) – reacting against self antigens

self-reactive (adj.) – directed against one's own cells

immune-mediated (adj.) – involving the immune system, though not necessarily self-attack

🚫 Antonyms

self-tolerant (adj.) – not attacking self tissues

🌱 Derivatives

autoimmunity (n.) – the state of being autoimmune

autoimmunization (n.) – the process of becoming autoimmune

autoantibody (n.) – an antibody that targets self components

📖 Cultural Story

Coined early 1900s from Greek 'autos' (self) and Latin 'immunis' (exempt). Describes immune system's mistaken self-attack in diseases like multiple sclerosis.