plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: an acute contagious virus disease caused by a paramyxovirus (species Mumps virus of the genus Rubulavirus) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland
Examples of mumps in a Sentence
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Vaccines protect us so thoroughly against childhood infections that many formerly common infections–including measles, mumps, and Haemophilus influenza–have almost disappeared.
—
Steven Salzberg, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023
For example, the U.S. had recorded vaccination levels from the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine close to or above 95% for several years leading up to the pandemic — a share that has slipped to 93.5% nationwide.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2023
At one point, Katharine has mumps and Andy has shingles.
—Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2023
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services requires students to be fully immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, hepatitis A and chickenpox.
—Dallas News, 17 Nov. 2022
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Steven Salzberg, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023
For example, the U.S. had recorded vaccination levels from the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine close to or above 95% for several years leading up to the pandemic — a share that has slipped to 93.5% nationwide.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2023
At one point, Katharine has mumps and Andy has shingles.
—Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2023
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services requires students to be fully immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, hepatitis A and chickenpox.
—Dallas News, 17 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for mumps
Cite this Entry
“Mumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mumps. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mumps
singular or plural noun
: a contagious disease caused by a virus and marked by fever and by swelling especially of salivary glands
Medical Definition
mumps
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: an acute contagious virus disease caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Rubulavirus (species Mumps virus) and marked by fever and by swelling especially of the parotid gland
called also epidemic parotitis
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