Autoimmune describes a condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. It encompasses disorders in which immune responses target healthy cells, leading to chronic inflammation or organ-specific damage. The term combines 'auto-' meaning self and 'immune' relating to immunity, and is widely used in medical contexts and research discussions.
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"Doctors suspect an autoimmune component when symptoms persist despite standard treatments."
"She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that affects the joints."
"Researchers study autoimmune mechanisms to develop targeted therapies."
"Autoimmune conditions often require lifelong management and monitoring."
Autoimmune is formed from the prefix auto- (self) + immune (relating to the immune system). The prefix auto- derives from Greek auto- meaning self. Immune comes from Latin immunis via French immunité, rooted in immunitas, meaning exemption or protection from disease. The term 'autoimmune' began appearing in the 20th century as immunology developed and clinicians described conditions where self-t tissues were attacked by immune processes rather than pathogens. Early medical literature used phrases like 'autoaggression' or 'autoimmunity' to describe self-reactive immune responses; by mid-century, 'autoimmune disease' became standard. In contemporary usage, autoimmune describes both the process (self-directed immune activity) and the resulting diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus). The word has since become a staple in research, clinical discussions, and patient education, reflecting a paradigm where immune tolerance to self fails, leading to chronic inflammatory activity and tissue injury.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "autoimmune" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "autoimmune"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say ah-TOH-tuh-MYOO-n, with the primary stress on the second syllable. In IPA US/UK variants, it commonly renders as /ˌɔː.təˈɪ.mjuːn/ or /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/ depending on the speaker. Break it into auto- (self) + immune (important to get MJUːN sound; lips close, tongue mid-high). The 'auto' syllable is a Schwa-like /ə/ followed by /ˈtɔː/ or /ˈtə/ depending on accent, and the ending /mjuːn/ or /ˈmjuːn/. You’ll hear a slight linking between /t/ and /m/?n in fluent speech. Practice: /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/.”
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on the first syllable as /ˈɔː.təˌjuːn/), mispronouncing the /mjuːn/ as /mun/ or /mjuːn/ with a weaker /j/ vowel, and sliding the /t/ into a hard /d/ due to coarticulation. To correct: emphasize the second syllable with /ˈmjuːn/ cluster, keep /t/ crisp before /m/, and ensure the /juː/ is a palatal glide. Practicing with slow-dilar: /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/ helps avoid scrambling the consonant cluster.
In US English, you may hear /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/ with r-less rhotic flow and a clearer /mjuːn/. UK English often yields /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/ with subtler rhotic influence and softer /t/ release. Australian tends toward /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/ with a slightly higher vowel in the first syllable and a less tense /juː/ glide. Regardless, the second syllable’s /mjuːn/ is the anchor; practice keeping the /j/ as a light palatal glide between /m/ and /juː/.
The difficulty lies in the /ˌɔː.tə/ onset plus the /ˈmjuːn/ ending, where the /j/ is a palatal glide that should link smoothly into a long /uː/ vowel. The consonant cluster /t/ + /m/ requires precise timing so the air flows cleanly and the tongue closes briefly before the nasal. Additionally, many speakers misplace stress or hesitate before the /mjuːn/, making the word sound segmented. Focus on a tight sequence: /ɔː.tə/ + /ˈmjuːn/ with coordinated lip rounding for /juː/.
Yes: the root boundary between auto- and immune creates a compound-like rhythm where the second syllable bears strong stress: /ˌɔː.təˈmjuːn/. The /j/ sound acts as a mini-glide beginning the /juː/ vowel cluster, which some learners collapse into /juː/ or /juːn/. Maintaining the /m/ nasal closure before /juː/ helps keep the cluster distinct. Also, avoid an overly strong /t/ release that splits the syllables unnaturally; aim for a smooth, quick transition into the /mjuːn/.
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