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

While Kennedy’s pattern is clear, outside experts have raised concerns about whether new CDC director Schwartz—who has championed the use of vaccines in the past—would stand up to Kennedy’s anti-vaccine agenda. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026

Critics have blamed Kennedy for fueling anti-vaccine sentiment and sparking an outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children under 5. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Aug. 2026

The letter did not specifically discuss anti-vaccine activism. — Ali Swenson, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Actor Ricky Schroder shared a transphobic, anti-vaccine tribute to Dolly Parton hours after her death. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 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