plural in form but singular or plural in construction
1
a
: an acute contagious disease that is caused by a morbillivirus (species Measles morbillivirus) and is marked especially by an eruption of distinct red circular spots
called also rubeola
b
: any of various eruptive diseases (such as German measles)
2
[Middle English mesel infested with tapeworms, literally, leprous, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin misellus leper, from Latin, wretch, from misellus, diminutive of miser miserable]
: infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues
Examples of measles in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Illinois remains the state with by far the largest number of measles cases this year, after a large outbreak at a Chicago migrant shelter that the city's health department now says has slowed significantly in the wake of a major vaccination push.
—
Alexander Tin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
As of Thursday, the most recent data available, 121 measles cases across 18 jurisdictions were reported in the U.S. in 2024.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 15 Apr. 2024
But now, in the first quarter of 2024, the number of measles cases recorded in the U.S. was significantly higher than in recent years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
According to a new report from the agency, this year’s first-quarter tally of measles cases was at 97 people, significantly higher than the average of five people each year between 2020 through 2023 in the same time period.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Apr. 2024
However, data shows there were 338 measles cases reported in the US from January 2020 through March 2024.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The uptick comes five years after the measles cases reached the highest level in over two decades.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Nearly a third of all U.S. measles cases in the past four years happened during a three-month stretch in 2024, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The country is on track to have one of the worst measles years since 2019, when Americans experienced the largest measles outbreak in 30 years.
—Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
Alexander Tin, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
As of Thursday, the most recent data available, 121 measles cases across 18 jurisdictions were reported in the U.S. in 2024.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 15 Apr. 2024
But now, in the first quarter of 2024, the number of measles cases recorded in the U.S. was significantly higher than in recent years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
According to a new report from the agency, this year’s first-quarter tally of measles cases was at 97 people, significantly higher than the average of five people each year between 2020 through 2023 in the same time period.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Apr. 2024
However, data shows there were 338 measles cases reported in the US from January 2020 through March 2024.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The uptick comes five years after the measles cases reached the highest level in over two decades.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Nearly a third of all U.S. measles cases in the past four years happened during a three-month stretch in 2024, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The country is on track to have one of the worst measles years since 2019, when Americans experienced the largest measles outbreak in 30 years.
—Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'measles.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near measles
Cite this Entry
“Measles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/measles. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
measles
noun singular or plural
mea·sles
ˈmē-zəlz 
: a contagious disease caused by a virus and marked by fever and red spots on the skin
also
: any of several diseases (as German measles) that resemble measles
Medical Definition
measles
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
mea·sles
ˈmē-zəlz
1
a
: an acute contagious disease that is caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus (species Measles morbillivirus), that commences with catarrhal symptoms, conjunctivitis, cough, and Koplik's spots on the oral mucous membrane, and that is marked by the appearance on the third or fourth day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually decline
called also rubeola
b
: any of various eruptive diseases (as German measles)
2
: infestation with or disease caused by larval tapeworms in the muscles and tissues
specifically
: infestation of cattle and swine with cysticerci of tapeworms that as adults parasitize humans compare measle
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