autoimmune

/ˈɔdoʊəˌmjun/

/ɔtəʊɪˈmjun/

When a condition or illness is described as autoimmune, it means the body's immune system is attacking the body's own cells or tissues. Lupus is one example of an autoimmune disease.

Your immune system sends out antibodies to attack bacteria and viruses that shouldn't be in your body. When this system mistakenly attacks substances that are meant to be in your body, it can cause all kinds of problems — this is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune is a medical term that's been around since the 1950s, from auto-, "self," and immune, "exempt from a disease."

Definitions of autoimmune

1. adjective

   of or relating to the immune response of the body against substance normally present in the body