Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "autoimmunity" shine gazawar tsarin rigakafi na kwayoyin halitta don gane kwayoyin halitta da kyallen takarda a matsayin "kai," wanda ke haifar da amsawar rigakafi ga kwayoyin halitta da kyallen takarda kamar dai su ne mahara na waje. Wannan mummunan martani na rigakafi zai iya haifar da kumburi na kullum, lalacewar nama, da cututtuka na autoimmune.
