pox

1 of 2

noun

ˈpäks 

plural pox or poxes

1

a

: a virus disease (such as chickenpox) characterized by pustules or eruptions

b

archaic : smallpox

c

: syphilis

2

: a disastrous evil : plague, curse

a pox on him

poxy

ˈpäk-sē 

adjective

pox

2 of 2

verb

poxed; poxing; poxes

transitive verb

archaic

: to infect with a pox and especially with syphilis

Examples of pox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their limited time together is so important that Ryan throws caution to the wind and contracts chicken pox from an ill Phoebe. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026

For people who got the chicken pox vaccine as a kid (the shots became widely available in 1995), the risk of shingles appears to be lower. — Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026

Beulah Park sits at the bottom of the district in terms of vaccination rates for numerous vaccines, including measles, chicken pox and polio. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

One study found that autoimmune patients treated with CAR T still made antibodies for diseases they’d been previously vaccinated against, like chicken pox and measles. — Amber Dance, ArsTechnica, 17 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of pocks, plural of pock

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pox

• chicken pox

Rhymes for pox

• balks
• blocks
• blocs
• box
• chalks
• chocks
• clocks
• cocks
• cox
• crocks
• docks
• docs

Kids Definition

pox

noun

ˈpäks

: a disease (as chicken pox) that is caused by a virus and produces a rash on the skin

Medical Definition

pox

noun

ˈpäks 

plural pox or poxes

1

: a viral disease (such as chickenpox) characterized by pustules or eruptions

2

archaic : smallpox

3

: syphilis