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The comparison is pretty accurate—shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox, varicella zoster, which can stay dormant for decades after those itchy red spots are gone.—Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 7 May 2026 One example is shingles, which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus behind chickenpox.—Cassie Shortsleeve, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026 The varicella-zoster virus spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with fluid from the blisters or by breathing in particles from them.—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026 The infection is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus behind chickenpox.—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zoster
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin zōstēr, borrowed from Greek zōstḗr "belt, girdle, shingles," from zōs-, base of zṓnnȳmi, aorist ézōsa "(I) gird(ed)" + -tēr, suffix of instruments — more at zone entry 1