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antigen

The definition of antigen is a harmful substance which enters the body which causes the body to make antibodies as a response to fight off disease.

(noun)

An example of an antigen is a common cold virus which causes the body to make antibodies which help prevent the person from getting sick.

See antigen in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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noun

a protein, toxin, or other substance of high molecular weight, to which the body reacts by producing antibodies

Origin: anti- + -gen

Related Forms:

antigenic adjective

See antigen in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs.

Related Forms:

anˌti·genˈic (-jĕnˈĭk) adjective

anˌti·genˈi·cal·ly adverb

anˌti·ge·nicˈi·ty (-jə-nĭsˈĭ-tē) noun

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