1. an impermanent form of acquired immunity in which antibodies against a disease are acquired naturally (as through the placenta to an unborn child) or artificially (as by injection of antiserum);
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
passive immunity
n 1: an impermanent form of acquired immunity in which
antibodies against a disease are acquired naturally (as
through the placenta to an unborn child) or artificially
(as by injection of antiserum)