shingles

noun, plural in form but singular in construction shin·gles \ ˈshiŋ-gəlz \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Definition of shingles

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves that is associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pains and is caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox — called also herpes zoster, zoster

Recent Examples of shingles from the Web

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning about a shortage of the newest shingles vaccine.

— CBS News, "CDC warns of shingles vaccine shortage," 29 June 2018
Doctors may also recommend that shingles patients pop some Advil or Tylenol, since over-the-counter or prescription pain-relief medicines as well as topical numbing agents may help ease pain.

— blake bakkila, Health.com, "Lin-Manuel Miranda Has Quarantined Himself After His Shingles Diagnosis—Here’s Why," 6 Apr. 2018
Antiviral medicines are less effective when taken three or more days after a shingles rash has appeared.

— Health.com, "What Is Shingles?," 1 May 2017
Jackie shuffles across the roof, her sneakers scratching the sandpapery shingles, punctuated by the occasional thump of the staple gun.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award finalist: "Nothing Less Than 20,000 Watts" by Susan Finch," 2 June 2018
Multiple large randomized trials have shown that the Shingrix vaccine prevents more than 90 percent of shingles cases.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Shingrix® – A new, more effective Shingles vaccine available at Froedtert & MCW pharmacies," 7 May 2018
The characteristic symptom of shingles is a painful rash, which often wraps around the left or right side of your torso.

— korin miller, SELF, "Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Migraine' Turned Out to Be Shingles," 6 Apr. 2018
An improved shingles immunization was approved earlier this year, and a new cholera vaccine was approved in 2016.

— kate sheridan, Newsweek, "Strep Vaccine Could Save Lives and Reduce Health Care Costs—So Why Don't We Have One?," 26 Feb. 2018
An advisory panel to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just recommended that everyone over the age of 50 receive a new vaccination against shingles called Shingrix.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Everyone Over the Age of 50 Needs the New Shingles Vaccine, Experts Say," 26 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shingles.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of shingles

Middle English schingles, by folk etymology from Medieval Latin cingulus, from Latin cingulum girdle — more at cingulum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

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SHINGLES Defined for English Language Learners

shingles

noun

Definition of shingles for English Language Learners

medical : a disease that causes pain and red marks on your skin along the path of a nerve

Medical Dictionary

shingles

noun plural but singular in construction shin·gles \ ˈshiŋ-gəlz \

medical Definition of shingles

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pain and caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox — called also herpes zoster, zona, zoster