immunosuppressant

noun

im·​mu·​no·​sup·​pres·​sant ˌi-myə-nō-sə-ˈpre-sᵊnt How to pronounce immunosuppressant (audio)
i-ˌmyü-nō-
plural immunosuppressants
: an agent (such as a drug) that suppresses the immune response
The drug was a strong immunosuppressant and was lowering the rats' T-cell counts, making them more vulnerable to infections.Chip Brown
… a highly specific immunosuppressant that prevents patients from rejecting transplanted tissue.Barry Werth
immunosuppressant adjective
immunosuppressant drugs

Examples of immunosuppressant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web However, depending on the severity, duration, and cause, healthcare providers may prescribe other medications, such as steroids or immunosuppressants. Karen Pallarito, Health, 24 Mar. 2024 Elderberry can interfere with immune system function in people who take immunosuppressants and people with autoimmune diseases. 5. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 In severe cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications such as oral immunosuppressants or other systemic treatments to control inflammation. Amanda Gardner, Health, 4 Mar. 2024 For instance, treatments like chemotherapy and immunosuppressants can weaken the immune system and lessen how much protection a vaccine can offer. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2023 In the new study, a third of the monkeys survived for a year or longer while on standard immunosuppressants. Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2023 Researchers wrote in the study that the roundworm’s survival in the woman’s body may have been aided by the immunosuppressants she was prescribed to treat her high white blood cell levels. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023 But previous studies relied on aggressive immunosuppressants to tame the body’s immune responses, and their successes were often positive outliers rather than consistent outcomes. Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2023 Now the 32-year-old is in stable health, but will take immunosuppressants for the rest of her life. Kayla Blanton, SELF, 21 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immunosuppressant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of immunosuppressant was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near immunosuppressant

Cite this Entry

“Immunosuppressant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immunosuppressant. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

immunosuppressant

1 of 2 noun
im·​mu·​no·​sup·​pres·​sant -sə-ˈpres-ᵊnt How to pronounce immunosuppressant (audio)
: an agent (such as a drug) that suppresses the immune response
The experiments focused on the use of cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant widely used in human kidney, heart-lung, bone marrow, pancreas and liver transplants.Science News

immunosuppressant

2 of 2 adjective
: immunosuppressive
immunosuppressant effects

More from Merriam-Webster on immunosuppressant

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