shingles

noun

shin·​gles ˈshiŋ-gəlz 

plural in form but singular in construction

: 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

Examples of shingles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone with Medicare drug coverage will get free adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including the shingles and tetanus-diphtheria-whooping cough vaccines. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Oct. 2022

Next year, seniors on Medicare will no longer have a copay for adult vaccinations, such as the shingles and pneumonia vaccines. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 16 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

shingles

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

shin·​gles ˈshiŋ-gəlz 

: 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