acellular
adjective
acel·lu·lar (ˌ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər 
1
: containing no cells
acellular vaccines
2
: not divided into cells : consisting of a single complex cell —used especially of protozoa and ciliates
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In the most recent school year, kindergartners had a 93.9% vaccination rate for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), 93.6% for diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis, and 93.6% for varicella. 
Virginia Langmaid, CNN, 21 Apr. 2022 The acellular vaccine has, however, lately turned out to provide strong protection for only a few years. Richard Conniff, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2022 Today, recruits entering Army basic training receive vaccines against many diseases, including hepatitis A; hepatitis B; measles/mumps/rubella; tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis; varicella; meningitis; and polio. Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Oct. 2021 For the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine or DTaP, coverage ranged from 88.8% in Idaho to at least 99.2% in Mississippi, according to the report. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 17 Oct. 2019 First, for unclear reasons, protection conferred by the acellular vaccine waned over time. Quanta Magazine, 10 May 2018 The pertussis formulation, known as whole-cell, was replaced in the 1990s with acellular versions contained in the current DTaP and Tdap vaccines. New York Times, 18 June 2019 There is also another, less publicized, method of producing animal products called acellular agriculture. Andrew Amelinckx, Smithsonian, 12 Dec. 2017 The new state rules also require some additional vaccinations for polio and meningitis, in addition to those already required for tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and children pox. Rita Giordano, Philly.com, 13 Sep. 2017 See More
Virginia Langmaid, CNN, 21 Apr. 2022 The acellular vaccine has, however, lately turned out to provide strong protection for only a few years. Richard Conniff, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2022 Today, recruits entering Army basic training receive vaccines against many diseases, including hepatitis A; hepatitis B; measles/mumps/rubella; tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis; varicella; meningitis; and polio. Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Oct. 2021 For the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine or DTaP, coverage ranged from 88.8% in Idaho to at least 99.2% in Mississippi, according to the report. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 17 Oct. 2019 First, for unclear reasons, protection conferred by the acellular vaccine waned over time. Quanta Magazine, 10 May 2018 The pertussis formulation, known as whole-cell, was replaced in the 1990s with acellular versions contained in the current DTaP and Tdap vaccines. New York Times, 18 June 2019 There is also another, less publicized, method of producing animal products called acellular agriculture. Andrew Amelinckx, Smithsonian, 12 Dec. 2017 The new state rules also require some additional vaccinations for polio and meningitis, in addition to those already required for tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and children pox. Rita Giordano, Philly.com, 13 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
a- entry 2 + cellular entry 1
First Known Use
1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
acellular
adjective
acel·lu·lar (ˈ)ā-ˈsel-yə-lər
1
: containing no cells
acellular vaccines
2
: not divided into cells : consisting of a single complex cell —used especially of protozoans and ciliates