anti-vaccine

adjective

ˌan-tē-vak-ˈsēn
ˌan-ˌtī- How to pronounce anti-vaccine (audio)
-ˈvak-ˌsēn
variants or less commonly antivaccine
: opposed to the use of vaccines
A handful of parents and anti-vaccine activists told lawmakers … that they believe vaccines are responsible for countless cases of autism, learning disabilities and death.Jim Hughes
… the rising global threat of antivaccine sentiments and vaccine misinformation contributed to the WHO [=World Health Organization] classifying vaccine hesitancy as a top ten global health threat in 2019 …David M. Higgins and Sean T. O'Leary

Examples of anti-vaccine 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.
Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the public health system also spread during the pandemic, and longtime anti-vaccine activist groups saw a swell in interest from the wider public. Matt Brown, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026 Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the public health system also spread during the pandemic, and longtime anti-vaccine activist groups saw a swell in interest from the wider public. Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026 Misinformation and conspiracy theories about the public health system also spread during the pandemic, and longtime anti-vaccine activist groups saw a swell in interest from the wider public. Matt Brown, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026 That enraged a coalition of anti-mask, anti-vaccine, pro-Trump protesters, who pushed their way into the locked election office. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026 And this secretary has been a long-standing anti-vaccine advocate. CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 Kennedy has long been a leading voice in the anti-vaccine community. Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026 The biggest problem is that despite having a safe, affordable, and highly effective measles vaccine widely available, the number of children receiving it has been decreasing since 2019, as anti-vaccine organizations and politicians have become increasingly visible and influential. Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026 As anti-vaccine activists are quick to point out, an American kid’s risk of catching polio in 2026 is vanishingly low. Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anti-vaccine was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anti-vaccine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-vaccine. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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