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.
In 2021, he was banned from Instagram for posting false anti-vaccine content. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026 Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, chaired Children's Health Defense for years. — Fatima Hussein, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026 Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, chaired Children’s Health Defense for years. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy attempted to distance himself from Children’s Health Defense and his prior anti-vaccine activism in order to secure key Republican votes. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anti-vaccine

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 24 Sep. 2026.

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