anti-vaccine

adjective

ˌan-tē-vak-ˈsēn,
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.
This is a common anti-vaccine talking point. Sony Salzman, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025 Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, has promoted discredited theories that vaccines cause autism. Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025 Bannon, for his part, slammed Kennedy's effectiveness as health secretary, calling his efforts to implement an anti-vaccine agenda unserious and amateurish. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2025 The piece argued a common anti-vaccine trope, supposedly identifying a link between vaccines and autism. Mackenzie France, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025 In what was likely a sign of changes to come, the COVID discussion Friday included non-vetted presentations that promoted popular anti-vaccine talking points, including claims that the vaccines were contaminated, and can cause cancer and birth defects. Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 19 Sep. 2025 Kennedy and anti-vaccine activists have repeatedly questioned that guidance. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025 Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic before his appointment as health secretary, dismissed the panel's 17 previous members earlier this year and replaced them with a mix that includes anti-vaccine voices. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 The investor reaction isn’t surprising given the constant thrum of anti-vaccine misinformation since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Kennedy’s own role through the Children’s Defense Fund back in May 2021 in petitioning the federal government to revoke authorization of COVID-19 vaccines. Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

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 30 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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