mumps

noun

ˈməmps 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: an acute contagious virus disease caused by a paramyxovirus (species Mumps virus of the genus Rubulavirus) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland

Examples of mumps in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

None of the children had received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025

That risk is the reason that in June 2009, ACIP recommended that doctors give the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine and the varicella vaccine separately for the first dose in kids ages 1 to 4. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 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 virus disease caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Rubulavirus (species Mumps virus) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland

called also epidemic parotitis