Immunity or Immunization? Settle this argument!?

Ok bear with me for a sec. My husband & I are both stubborn people and I finally said I would come on here to get a proper answer.

We were watching a rerun of "Last Comic Standing" and someone won immunity and in her interview said, "I just won an immunization". I said that's an improper use of the word because immunization is a medical term and in THIS situation, immunity has more the legal meaning. Never have I heard a lawyer plea for his client to get an immunization if he gives up more information. Never has Jeff Probst said on Survivor, "You just won yourself an immunization".

We called our friends and they're split down the middle. If you say, "I just won an immunization" pertaining to legality or a reality show, is that a correct usage of the word? It's driving me nuts!

And yes, I'm THAT stubborn.

My husband wants his side so people get a fair representation of our sides! LOL

HIS SIDE:
The definition of immunization is to make one immune. Immune has many uses. The verb "immunization" is a correct usages regardless of the usage of the word "immune".

If you got a shot at the doctor, you would say "I've just been immunized so now I have immunity because my doctor gave me an immunization." But if you could not get a disease again because you had already had that disease (like I had measles and mumps when I was a kid), then you would say "I have immunity" to whatever. On the show, they have to win immunity, so I would argue they are not being immunized by someone else or receiving an immunization, because they had to develop their own immunity, just like I did by suffering from those diseases. And the lawyer's clients have to earn immunity by giving up other people. The police don't immunize them. So I think I'm with you on this one.

I agree with you.

The comic was most likely trying to come up with a clever response, not necessarily a grammatically correct one!

Immunization is the process, Immunity is the outcome. For example you immunize your children so they become immune, thus it was used in the wrong context. She gained Immunity through a process of immunization. YOU WIN!

You are right, but remember that if you keep doing that you are going to end up divorced when you are finally wrong.

Merrian Webster defines immunization as: to make immune
1 a : FREE, EXEMPT <immune from further taxation> b : marked by protection <some criminal leaders are immune from arrest>
2 : not susceptible or responsive <immune to all pleas>; especially : having a high degree of resistance to a disease <immune to diphtheria>

and Immunity:
: the quality or state of being immune; especially : a condition of being able to resist a particular disease especially through preventing development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products

So both are correct.

That caught me too....lol. I literally had to think about it for a while after hearing that on TV. Here's my theory: I mean, if you were to get a flu immunization, you would technically have immunity from the flu right? (at least for a while anyway) So, it's basically one in the same. I think really because she is a comedian, she just wanted to put a twist on the whole immunity thing. You can rest assured that you and your 'stubborn' husband are BOTH right!!!! lol

When medical personnel get a Hep B Series. That is the Shot to immunize against the Hepatitis B Virus. The term,word or saying is really a medical term. It has to do with making sure you build up antibodies in your immune system so you are no longer vulnerable. These are called immunization shots which makes you immune to a given disease. Using the phase " I won an immunization" is not entirely wrong, but it is funny. As for being a legal term I have never heard a lawyer say you have immunity to a given crime. Basically in the show you are referring to each person is vulnerable to being attacked by another person or judge. ie voted off or terminated. So think of it in terms of a disease "something that will effect your well being." If you become immunized by being given immunity from these things that can cause you harm( in this case the voting off process) Then you have an immunization from the harmful process of getting booted off the show.

If the flu shot which will help you to become immune to the flu is in short order and is impossible to obtain, but you happen to win a free flu shot from a radio contest, a person might say. "hey I just won an immunization". After that shot was given they will now become immune to the flu and they body would undergo a process of developing immunity.

The show was the "Last Comic Standing" so in all fairness and in context with people being funny it was a good choice of words.