varicella

noun

var·​i·​cel·​la ˌver-ə-ˈse-lə 

ˌva-rə-

: chicken pox

Examples of varicella in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those who did get vaccinated received what’s known as a live zoster vaccine, an older option that contains a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 May 2025

Suppressing the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus reduces dementia onset. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025

Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that leads to chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the most common symptom is a painful, itchy rash. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025

Then, in 2022, a study looked to another common virus that had been associated with Alzheimer’s disease – varicella zoster virus (VZV). —Rich Haridy, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from vari- (in variola variola) + Medieval Latin -cella, diminutive suffix (extracted from nouns such as nāvicella, diminutive of Latin nāvicula "boat," diminutive of nāvis "ship")

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for varicella

• arabella
• bartonella
• bordetella
• cinderella
• citronella
• columella
• isabella
• klebsiella
• legionella
• mozzarella
• pasteurella
• salmonella

Medical Definition

varicella

noun

var·​i·​cel·​la ˌvar-ə-ˈsel-ə 

: chicken pox