acellular

adjective

acel·​lu·​lar (ˌ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər 

1

: containing no cells

acellular vaccines

2

: not divided into cells : consisting of a single complex cell

—used especially of protozoa and ciliates

Examples of acellular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In seventh grade, students must also get a dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). — Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Adolescents should then receive a Tdap or tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis booster at age 11 or 12. — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

And some vaccines are combination shots, knocking out three or four diseases with one injection, such as the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or the Diphtheria, tetanus, & acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. — ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025

The vaccines recommended under the new guidelines include diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Pneumococcal conjugate, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as varicella (chickenpox). — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + cellular entry 1

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for acellular

• subcellular
• cellular
• extracellular
• intercellular
• intracellular
• multicellular
• unicellular
• hepatocellular

Kids Definition

acellular

adjective

acel·​lu·​lar (ˈ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər 

: not made up of cells

Medical Definition

acellular

adjective

acel·​lu·​lar (ˈ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər 

1

: containing no cells

acellular vaccines

2

: not divided into cells : consisting of a single complex cell

—used especially of protozoans and ciliates