: 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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Among the recommendations from the health department are receiving the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
—
Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
The oldest approach to vaccination in use today includes either inactivated pathogens—such as those in most modern polio vaccines—or pathogens that remain viable but have been weakened enough not to trigger disease—such as those in the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
When Reef’s work began, less than half the world’s countries had introduced a rubella shot.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Last month Hobbs brought her 5-year-old twins, Joseph and Alice, to a mobile vaccine clinic to get their first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026
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Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
The oldest approach to vaccination in use today includes either inactivated pathogens—such as those in most modern polio vaccines—or pathogens that remain viable but have been weakened enough not to trigger disease—such as those in the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2026
When Reef’s work began, less than half the world’s countries had introduced a rubella shot.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Last month Hobbs brought her 5-year-old twins, Joseph and Alice, to a mobile vaccine clinic to get their first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 14 Mar. 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 4 Apr. 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
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