German measles

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. rubella.

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German measles British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a nontechnical name for rubella

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German measles Scientific  

/ jûr′mən /

1. An infectious disease caused by the rubella virus of the genus Rubivirus, characterized by mild fever and skin rash. German measles can cause congenital defects if a woman is exposed during early pregnancy.

2. Also called rubella

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German measles Cultural  

1. An acute and contagious disease, caused by a virus, producing symptoms milder than those usually associated with measles.

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German measles can cause severe congenital defects in the developing embryo or fetus of a woman who contracts the disease in her first three months of pregnancy.

Etymology

Origin of German measles

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Smith was a sickly child, contracting bronchial pneumonia, tuberculosis, German measles, mumps and chicken pox which kept her in "periods of lengthy bed rest".

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025

Rubella, also known as German measles because German scientists classified it in the 19th century, is a moderate illness for most patients, identified by a spotty and often itchy red rash.

From New York Times • May 21, 2024

But he was removed from the mission a few days before launch after being exposed to German measles.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2023

Bristling, a student from Bremen said “What is this German measles? There is nothing German about it!”

From Scientific American • Aug. 11, 2021

Caution.—A person who has had the measles or German measles, should be very careful about taking cold, for if they do they are liable to have serious trouble, especially in the chest.

From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Ritter, Thomas Jefferson