: an acute contagious viral disease that is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (Rubivirus rubellae) and milder than typical measles but is damaging to the fetus when occurring early in pregnancy : german measles
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However, Mecklenburg County falls just short of that figure, with 91% of children in grades K-5 up-to-date on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to Washington.
—
Evan Moore
december 16, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
In September, the CDC's vaccine recommendation committee voted to recommend that the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, or MMRV, be separated into MMR and varicella shots for children under the age of 4.
—CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Both groups released these statements earlier in the fall, before ACIP announced changes to recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine and the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
Combination vaccines such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine have been shown to be as safe and effective, or more so, than giving children the shots individually.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2025
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Evan Moore
december 16, Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025
In September, the CDC's vaccine recommendation committee voted to recommend that the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine, or MMRV, be separated into MMR and varicella shots for children under the age of 4.
—CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Both groups released these statements earlier in the fall, before ACIP announced changes to recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine and the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
Combination vaccines such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine have been shown to be as safe and effective, or more so, than giving children the shots individually.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rubella
Cite this Entry
“Rubella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubella. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rubella
noun
ru·bel·la
rü-ˈbel-ə 
Medical Definition
rubella
noun
ru·bel·la
rü-ˈbel-ə
: an acute contagious disease that is milder than typical measles but is damaging to the fetus when occurring early in pregnancy and that is caused by a matonavirus (Rubivirus rubellae) : german measles see maternal rubella
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