anti-vaccine

adjective

anti-vac·​cine ˌan-tē-vak-ˈsēn How to pronounce anti-vaccine (audio) ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce anti-vaccine (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The conservative assault on child health starts with the anti-vaccine campaign and proceeds to cutbacks in nutrition assistance and narrowed access to healthcare. Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Last year, Kennedy fired the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's entire 17-member vaccine panel and replaced it with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices. ABC News, 29 June 2026 And so, so the administration clearly has gotten off the anti-vaccine message into something more positive. CBS News, 28 June 2026 Like Kennedy, many of them hold anti-vaccine views and are also openly hostile to mRNA technology. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026 Alas, as the current crisis confirms, such mere facts do not persuade those leading the anti-vaccine crusade that threatens both existing protections and the hope of creating new ones. Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 He's been a vocal opponent of his cousin's anti-vaccine rhetoric. Caroline Killilea, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 Nevertheless, anti-vaccine groups have targeted the ingredient, claiming falsely that it is linked to autism. Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 May 2026 Makary also came under fire from public health leaders, who accused him of catering to anti-vaccine activists. Connor Greene, Time, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anti-vaccine was in 1880

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Cite this Entry

“Anti-vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vaccine. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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