measles

noun

mea·​sles ˈmē-zəlz 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

1

a

: an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles morbillivirus) and is marked especially by an eruption of distinct red circular spots

called also rubeola

b

: any of various eruptive diseases (such as German measles)

2

[Middle English mesel infested with tapeworms, literally, leprous, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin misellus leper, from Latin, wretch, from misellus, diminutive of miser miserable] : infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues

Examples of measles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nye went on to speak about the measles outbreak in Texas, where 744 cases have been confirmed since late January, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

He’s downplayed deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years. —Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025

Vaccine hesitancy has already contributed to a growing measles outbreak throughout America, with well over 1,100 cases already reported in America this year, according to the CDC. —Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025

That could increase the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases spreading as the U.S. is already grappling with an unprecedented measles outbreak and is heading into a summer season of more travel and crowding, according to Maniar. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 10 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English meseles, plural of mesel measles, spot characteristic of measles; akin to Middle Dutch masel spot characteristic of measles

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing measles

• German measles

Rhymes for measles

• diesels
• easels
• weasels

Kids Definition

measles

singular or plural noun

mea·​sles ˈmē-zəlz 

: a contagious disease caused by a virus and marked by fever and red spots on the skin

also : any of several diseases (as German measles) that resemble measles

Medical Definition

measles

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

mea·​sles ˈmē-zəlz 

1

a

: an acute contagious disease that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Measles morbillivirus), that commences with catarrhal symptoms, conjunctivitis, cough, and Koplik's spots on the oral mucous membrane, and that is marked by the appearance on the third or fourth day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline

called also rubeola

b

: any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)

2

: infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues

specifically : infestation of cattle and swine with cysticerci of tapeworms that as adults parasitize humans compare measle