Word
mumps
US/ˈməmps/
UK/mˈʌmps/
Definition
n. a common illness caused by a virus that makes your neck and face swell up. It usually causes a fever and makes it painful to swallow.
n. an acute viral infection characterized by the swelling of the parotid salivary glands. Typically affects children and young adults; often preventable through vaccination.
Examples
“He stayed home from school because he had the mumps.”
“The doctor confirmed a case of mumps after noticing the characteristic swelling along the patient's jawline.”
“While usually a mild childhood illness, mumps can occasionally lead to more severe complications such as meningitis or inflammation of the reproductive organs in adult patients.”
Examples
simple
“He stayed home from school because he had the mumps.”
contextual
“The doctor confirmed a case of mumps after noticing the characteristic swelling along the patient's jawline.”
complex
“While usually a mild childhood illness, mumps can occasionally lead to more severe complications such as meningitis or inflammation of the reproductive organs in adult patients.”
Usage
Takes a singular verb despite the plural ending ('Mumps is...').
Pitfall
The mumps are spreading.
Mumps is spreading.
Mumps is a pluralia tantum noun that refers to a single disease, so it takes a singular verb.
Real-World Examples
“The MMR vaccine protects against three viral infections: measles, mumps and rubella.” “About 84% have received both of their recommended MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jabs, down from 88% a decade ago.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/mumps