antivax

American  

[an-tee-vaks, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈvæks, ˌæn taɪ- /

Sometimes anti-vaxx or anti-vax

adjective

Informal.

1. opposed to vaccines and vaccination; antivaccination: the antivax movement.

   antivax parents;

   the antivax movement.

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Etymology

Origin of antivax

First recorded in 1810–15 as Anti-Vacks (in the sense “persons opposed to vaccination”), in a letter by Edward Jenner); anti- + vax ( def. )

Example Sentences

Kennedy’s vaccine committee endorses flu shots — but only if they don’t include an ingredient antivax groups have falsely tied to autism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2025

Taylor grew up there in Mullumbimby, a small hamlet in northern New South Wales, and a town she describes as “dirty hippie, no shoes, like antivax, organic food.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2024

Asked why they had chosen not to have the Covid vaccines if they were not themselves anti-vaxxers, Luc Ferry said on Monday: "Like Igor, Grichka,wasn't antivax, he was just antivax for himself."

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2022

That range gave undecided users a variety of opportunities to engage with antivax content that was relevant to them, the study suggests.

From Scientific American • Jun. 22, 2021