rubella

noun

ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbe-lə How to pronounce rubella (audio)
: 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
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.
What matters is the protection against measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, chicken pox and more — not the label. — CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Doctors and public health department leaders told ABC News that awareness of the virus' dangers has led to higher interest in the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine in some areas. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Measles vaccine The measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine is safe and remains the best way to protect against measles, health officials say. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Supporters of the rule change also spoke against the COVID vaccine and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR), repeating unfounded claims, such as that doctors make money from vaccines and that vaccines cause autism. — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rubella

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rubella was in 1866

Rhymes for rubella

See All Rhymes for rubella

Browse Nearby Words

rub elbows with
rubella
rubellite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rubella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubella. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

rubella

noun
ru·​bel·​la rü-ˈbel-ə How to pronounce rubella (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on rubella

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubella

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All