Definition
An antibody is a special protein made by your immune system to recognize and help destroy harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. Each antibody targets a particular kind of invader.
Etymology
Formed in English from 'anti-' (against) + 'body', first used in the late 19th century in immunology. It parallels the idea of substances in the body that act against foreign 'bodies'.
Kelly Says
Antibodies are like custom-made locks that only fit certain keys on germs. Vaccines work by training your body to build those locks in advance, so the real invader finds the doors already booby-trapped.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ፀረ-አካል
tse-re-a-kal
ARالعربية
جسم مضاد
jism mu-daad
BNবাংলা
অ্যান্টিবডি
aen-ti-bo-di
CSČeština
protilátka
pro-ti-LAAT-ka
DADansk
antistof
AN-ti-stof
DEDeutsch
Antikörper
AN-ti-ker-per
ELΕλληνικά
αντίσωμα
an-TEE-so-ma
ESEspañol
anticuerpo
an-ti-KWER-po
FAفارسی
آنتیبادی
aan-ti-baa-dee
FISuomi
vasta-aine
VAS-ta-ai-ne
FRFrançais
anticorps
ahn-ti-KOR
GUGU
એન્ટિબોડી
en-ti-bo-dee
HAHA
kariyar jiki
ka-ri-yar ji-ki
HIहिन्दी
प्रतिरक्षी
pra-ti-rak-shee
HUMagyar
antitest
AN-ti-test
IDBahasa Indonesia
antibodi
an-ti-bo-di
IGIG
ihe mgbochi
i-he m-gbo-chi
ITItaliano
anticorpo
an-ti-KOR-po
KKKK
антидене
an-ti-de-ne
KMKM
អង្គធាតុប្រឆាំង
ong-kea-teat pra-cham
MRMR
प्रतिपिंड
pra-ti-pin-da
MSBahasa Melayu
antibodi
an-ti-bo-di
MYမြန်မာ
ပဋိပစ္စည်း
pa-ti-pat-si
NLNederlands
antilichaam
AN-ti-li-khaam
NONorsk
antistoff
AN-ti-stof
PAPA
ਐਂਟੀਬਾਡੀ
aen-ti-baa-dee
PLPolski
przeciwciało
prze-chiw-CHA-wo
PTPortuguês
anticorpo
an-ti-KOR-po
RORomână
anticorp
an-ti-KORP
RUРусский
антитело
an-ti-TE-lo
SVSvenska
antikropp
AN-ti-krop
SWKiswahili
kingamwili
kin-ga-mwi-li
TAதமிழ்
எதிர்ப்புப் பொருள்
e-tir-pu po-rul
TEతెలుగు
యాంటీబాడీ
yaan-tee-baa-dee
THไทย
แอนติบอดี
aen-ti-bo-dee
TLTL
antibody
an-ti-bo-dee
TRTürkçe
antikor
an-ti-kor
UKУкраїнська
антитіло
an-ti-TEE-lo
URاردو
اینٹی باڈی
aen-ti baa-dee
VITiếng Việt
kháng thể
kang te
YOYO
egboogi ara
eg-boo-gi a-ra
ZUZU
isivikeli somzimba
i-si-vi-ke-li so-mzi-mba
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Immunology research on antibodies has sometimes neglected sex-based immune differences, even though women may mount different antibody responses than men. This gap has influenced vaccine and treatment development.
Inclusive Usage
Use “antibody” neutrally, and when relevant, mention that immune responses can vary by sex and other factors without stereotyping.
Inclusive Alternatives
["immune protein","defensive protein"]
Empowerment Note
Women immunologists and lab workers have significantly advanced antibody research and technologies like monoclonal antibodies.