: 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
Examples of rubella in a Sentence
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One example is off-label vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, for children under 12 months old who plan to travel to areas where measles is not eradicated, or are exposed to a disease outbreak.
—
Elizabeth Lanphier, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025
Many people confuse the controversy over the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine with that of thimerosal.
—Lauren Gelman, Parents, 21 Nov. 2025
The committee is also exploring separating a single shot now given to protect against measles, mumps and rubella in a single shot into individual shots.
—NPR, 20 Nov. 2025
Though even Republicans support for vaccine safety and effectiveness—78% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats, for example, say that the protective benefits of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine outweigh any risks associated with the shot—support for school vaccine mandates has plummeted.
—Alice Park, Time, 18 Nov. 2025
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Elizabeth Lanphier, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025
Many people confuse the controversy over the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine with that of thimerosal.
—Lauren Gelman, Parents, 21 Nov. 2025
The committee is also exploring separating a single shot now given to protect against measles, mumps and rubella in a single shot into individual shots.
—NPR, 20 Nov. 2025
Though even Republicans support for vaccine safety and effectiveness—78% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats, for example, say that the protective benefits of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine outweigh any risks associated with the shot—support for school vaccine mandates has plummeted.
—Alice Park, Time, 18 Nov. 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 1 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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