: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
Vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) and chickenpox remain recommended for all children.
—
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
The vaccinations that the federal government continues to recommend for all children prevent against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox).
—Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
By 2015, rubella had been eliminated from the Americas.
—Jake Scott, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Advertisement Under the new schedule, the CDC continues to recommend vaccinations for all children for chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, pneumococcal conjugate, Haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB), measles, mumps, and rubella.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubella
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
The vaccinations that the federal government continues to recommend for all children prevent against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox).
—Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
By 2015, rubella had been eliminated from the Americas.
—Jake Scott, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Advertisement Under the new schedule, the CDC continues to recommend vaccinations for all children for chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, pneumococcal conjugate, Haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB), measles, mumps, and rubella.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rubella
Cite this Entry
“Rubella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubella. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share