measles

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

mea·sles | \ ˈmē-zəlz

Definition of measles

1a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles morbillivirus) and is marked especially by an eruption of distinct red circular spots

— called also rubeola

b : any of various eruptive diseases (such as German measles)

2 [Middle English mesel infested with tapeworms, literally, leprous, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin misellus leper, from Latin, wretch, from misellus, diminutive of miser miserable] : infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues

Example Sentences Phrases Containing measles Learn More About measles

Examples of measles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Other viruses, such as influenza and measles, are thought to make babies more vulnerable to conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and depression if they are exposed in utero. — Sumeet Kulkarni, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 There is no plan to require the COVID-19 vaccine in schools by the state, which requires proof of immunization against almost a dozen other diseases such as chickenpox and measles before entering kindergarten and at other intervals. — Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2022 Because viruses don’t have the same components as bacteria, they cannot be killed by antibiotics; only antiviral medications or vaccines can eliminate or reduce the severity of viral diseases, including AIDS, COVID-19, measles and smallpox. — USA Today, 23 May 2022 Last year, Gandhi oversaw an effort to vaccinate tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees against the coronavirus, measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. — Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 19 May 2022 Medical providers are legally required to report the discovery of diseases like E. coli, measles and SARS to public health officials. — Daphne Chen, Journal Sentinel, 7 June 2022 There are thousands of children across Maryland who not only haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19, but also lack protection from influenza and the kinds of diseases that routine shots long ago made scarce, such as measles and chickenpox. — Meredith Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 25 May 2022 Because viruses don’t have the same components as bacteria, they cannot be killed by antibiotics; only antiviral medications or vaccines can eliminate or reduce the severity of viral diseases, including AIDS, COVID-19, measles and smallpox. — USA Today, 23 May 2022 Because viruses don’t have the same components as bacteria, they cannot be killed by antibiotics; only antiviral medications or vaccines can eliminate or reduce the severity of viral diseases, including AIDS, COVID-19, measles and smallpox. — AZCentral.com, 5 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'measles.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

26 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Measles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/measles. Accessed 2 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for measles

measles

noun

mea·sles | \ ˈmē-zəlz

Kids Definition of measles

1 : a contagious disease in which there are fever and red spots on the skin

2 : any of several diseases (as German measles ) resembling true measles

measles

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

mea·sles | \ ˈmē-zəlz

Medical Definition of measles

1a : an acute contagious disease that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Measles morbillivirus), that commences with catarrhal symptoms, conjunctivitis, cough, and Koplik's spots on the oral mucous membrane, and that is marked by the appearance on the third or fourth day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline

— called also rubeola

b : any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)

2 : infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues specifically : infestation of cattle and swine with cysticerci of tapeworms that as adults parasitize humans — compare measle