rubella

noun

ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbe-lə 

: an acute contagious viral disease that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (Rubivirus rubellae) and milder than typical measles but is damaging to the fetus when occurring early in pregnancy : german measles

Examples of rubella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

State officials urged Wisconsinites to be proactive in preventing illness to protect themselves and their communities, saying the best way to prevent measles is with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Lauren and Mason Spence brought their 10-month-old son, Bowen, to a clinic recently to get his first dose of the MMR vaccine, short for measles, mumps and rubella. — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Many practicing pediatricians share this measles naivete because the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine eradicated measles in the United States in 2000. — Katie Lockwood, STAT, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, feminine of rubellus reddish, from ruber red — more at red

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rubella

• brucella
• candela
• capella
• chlorella
• flagella
• glabella
• lamella
• marcella
• mustela
• novella
• patella
• predella

Kids Definition

rubella

noun

ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbel-ə 

: german measles

Medical Definition

rubella

noun

ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbel-ə 

: an acute contagious disease that is milder than typical measles but is damaging to the fetus when occurring early in pregnancy and that is caused by a matonavirus (Rubivirus rubellae) : german measles see maternal rubella