mumps

noun

ˈməmps 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: an acute contagious viral disease caused by a paramyxovirus (Orthorubulavirus parotitidis) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland

Examples of mumps in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to the chickenpox and whooping cough vaccines, Jhonde got one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine as a baby. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2025

But coverage with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been declining in the US and Canada for years, with notable dips after the Covid-19 pandemic. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025

Merck also makes the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella shot. —Reuters, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health urged residents to get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in order to protect themselves and others in their community. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from plural of obsolete mump grimace

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mumps

• bumps
• clumps
• dumps
• humps
• jumps
• lumps
• pumps
• slumps
• stumps
• sumps
• thumps
• trumps

Kids Definition

mumps

singular or plural noun

ˈməm(p)s 

: a contagious disease caused by a virus and marked by fever and by swelling especially of salivary glands

Medical Definition

mumps

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

ˈməm(p)s 

: an acute contagious viral disease caused by a paramyxovirus (Orthorubulavirus parotitidis) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland

called also epidemic parotitis