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
Today’s whooping cough vaccines contain an acellular pertussis component, which is derived from inactive parts of the bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, per CDC.
—
Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
The acellular vaccine is still an effective vaccine.
—Melissa Dahl, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
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
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Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
The acellular vaccine is still an effective vaccine.
—Melissa Dahl, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Acellular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acellular. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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