acellular

adjective

acel·​lu·​lar (ˌ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər How to pronounce acellular (audio)
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 One is that cases are more commonly occurring in older kids and adults in whom the less reactive acellular pertussis vaccines have replaced older, original whole-cell pertussis vaccines. Judy Stone, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 Since the 1990s the U.S. has instead used what’s called an acellular vaccine, which includes only a handful of the bacterium’s components, such as surface proteins or the pertussis toxin. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024 Then, once the structure was built, the scientists removed the cadaver cells, leaving behind the new human acellular vessel (HAV), which mimics a real artery or vein. Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2019 Now there are no whole cells left, only the acellular compounds that were once in the foods. Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 28 Sep. 2018 Researchers found that shots for children and teens between March and May 2020 were substantially lower for routine vaccinations, including for DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis), measles, and HPV, across all age groups, compared with the same three-month period in 2018 and 2019. Anchorage Daily News, 10 June 2021 Among children under 24 months old and children 2 to 6 years old, doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) fell a median of almost 16 percent and 60 percent, respectively, across all jurisdictions, compared with the same period in 2018 and 2019. BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2021 The new vessels, dubbed human acellular vessels (HAVs), are about 15 inches long with a quarter inch diameter. Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2019 And the more doses of the acellular vaccine, the higher the pertussis risk. Carrie Arnold, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acellular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acellular was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near acellular

Cite this Entry

“Acellular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acellular. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

acellular

adjective
acel·​lu·​lar (ˈ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər How to pronounce acellular (audio)
: not made up of cells

Medical Definition

acellular

adjective
acel·​lu·​lar (ˈ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər How to pronounce acellular (audio)
1
: containing no cells
acellular vaccines
2
: not divided into cells : consisting of a single complex cell
used especially of protozoans and ciliates
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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