rubella

noun

ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbe-lə 

: 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

The federal directive also divides the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into separate shots. — Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

The health secretary also appeared on national television eating french fries cooked in beef tallow while falsely suggesting that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine causes more deaths than measles and that the protection from the vaccine wanes. — Demetre Daskalakis, STAT, 4 Sep. 2026

Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides about 97% immunity from measles, according to the CDC. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

None of the people who contracted measles received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination. — Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, feminine of rubellus reddish, from ruber red — more at red

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rubella

• brucella
• candela
• capella
• chlorella
• flagella
• glabella
• lamella
• marcella
• mustela
• novella
• patella
• predella

Kids Definition

rubella

noun

ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbel-ə 

: german measles

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