: 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
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The solution is to increase the number of kids who are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shots.
—
Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2025
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is extraordinarily effective, according to the CDC.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
But coverage with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been declining in the US and Canada for years, with notable dips after the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The full two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides 97% protection against the virus, and it’s first administered around the child’s first birthday and again at 4 to 6 years old.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
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Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2025
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is extraordinarily effective, according to the CDC.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
But coverage with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been declining in the US and Canada for years, with notable dips after the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The full two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides 97% protection against the virus, and it’s first administered around the child’s first birthday and again at 4 to 6 years old.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rubella
Cite this Entry
“Rubella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubella. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rubella
noun
ru·bel·la
rü-ˈbel-ə 
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
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