anti-vaccine

adjective

anti-vac·​cine ˌan-tē-vak-ˈsēn  ˌan-ˌtī- 

-ˈvak-ˌsēn

variants or less commonly antivaccine

: opposed to the use of vaccines

A handful of parents and anti-vaccine activists told lawmakers … that they believe vaccines are responsible for countless cases of autism, learning disabilities and death.

—Jim Hughes

… the rising global threat of antivaccine sentiments and vaccine misinformation contributed to the WHO [=World Health Organization] classifying vaccine hesitancy as a top ten global health threat in 2019 …

—David M. Higgins and Sean T. O'Leary

Examples of anti-vaccine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mRNA technology, famously used in Covid-19 vaccines, has been the subject of widespread anti-vaccine misinformation campaigns. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026

Kennedy, who has a history of anti-vaccine activism, altered the childhood immunization schedule in January to recommend fewer universal shots to all children. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026

That reporting is out there, around his many connections to folks who have profiteered off of an anti-vaccine movement. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

During the height of the 2025 outbreak, Kennedy somewhat pulled back from anti-vaccine messaging and encouraged inoculation against measles. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anti-vaccine

• acetylene
• adamantine
• adenosine
• amphetamine
• anthropocene
• apoprotein
• aquamarine
• arsphenamine
• azobenzene
• buprenorphine
• catecholamine
• chlorobenzene