mumps

American  

[muhmps] / mʌmps /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. an infectious disease characterized by inflammatory swelling of the parotid and usually other salivary glands, and sometimes by inflammation of the testes or ovaries, caused by a paramyxovirus.

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mumps British  

/ mʌmps /

noun

1. Also called: epidemic parotitis.  (functioning as singular or plural) an acute contagious viral disease of the parotid salivary glands, characterized by swelling of the affected parts, fever, and pain beneath the ear: usually affects children

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mumps Scientific  

/ mŭmps /

1. An infectious disease caused by a virus of the family Paramyxoviridae and the genus Rubulavirus, characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotid glands, and sometimes of the pancreas, testes, or ovaries. Vaccinations, usually given in early childhood, confer immunity to mumps.

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mumps Cultural  

1. An acute and contagious disease marked by fever and inflammation of the salivary glands. Caused by a virus, mumps is normally a childhood disease that passes with no aftereffects.

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Discover More

A child who has had mumps is immune from further infection by the mumps virus.

Other Word Forms

• mumpish
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mumps

First recorded in 1590–1600; mump ¹ + -s ³

Explanation

Mumps is a highly contagious, fast-spreading disease. When someone gets mumps, they have a fever and swollen neck glands. Mumps is one of many viral illnesses that can be prevented with immunizations. Before the vaccine was developed, mumps was a common childhood illness. It's spread through coughs and sneezes, and while it's often mild, there are complications that can be serious, like brain infections and deafness. The name mumps comes from the now-obsolete mump, "a grimace," from a previous meaning, "to whine like a beggar." In the seventeenth century, mumps also meant "a fit of melancholy."

Example Sentences

The measles vaccine, which typically comes with mumps and rubella vaccines as well, is extremely effective.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

The MMR vaccine offers protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination rates have declined in 78% of surveyed U.S. counties since the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

The American Academy for Pediatrics in late September criticized the change, which removed the option for toddlers to get a single shot that can protect against chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2025

When one cousin caught the measles or mumps, we were all quarantined together so as to get that childhood illness over and done with.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez