herpes

American  

[hur-peez] / ˈhɜr piz /

noun

Pathology.

1. any of several diseases caused by herpesvirus, characterized by eruption of blisters on the skin or mucous membranes.

2. herpesvirus.

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herpes British  

/ ˈhɜːpiːz /

noun

1. any of several inflammatory diseases of the skin, esp herpes simplex, characterized by the formation of small watery blisters See also genital herpes

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herpes Scientific  

/ hûr′pēz /

1. Any of several infections caused by the herpes simplex virus of the genus Simplexvirus or by the varicella-zoster virus, a herpes virus of the genus Varicellavirus. Herpes infections are characterized by painful blisters on the skin or a mucous membrane and are highly contagious. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. Varicella-zoster infection is also called shingles.

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herpes Cultural  

1. A group of related diseases and the viruses that cause them. These diseases are marked by the development of blisterlike sores on the skin or mucous membranes of the body. The herpes virus may invade the mouth region, producing fever blisters or cold sores, or may cause a sexually transmitted disease in which the painful sores appear on the genitals. Chicken pox is another disease caused by a herpes virus.

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Discover More

After an infection, the virus remains dormant and may return at a later time. Shingles, for example, is a recurrence of the chicken pox virus, and outbreaks of genital herpes recur over time.

Etymology

Origin of herpes

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from New Latin: “cutaneous eruption,” from Greek hérpēs, literally, “a creeping” (derivative of hérpein “to creep, spread”); cognate with Latin serpēns serpent

Compare meaning

How does herpes compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chancroid vs. herpes
• herpangina vs. herpes

Example Sentences

The biotech’s experimental cancer treatment is a genetically engineered version of the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1, the same virus that causes cold sores.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Nguyen will present the study, "Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease," on Monday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026

Herpes infections and tumors can both generate antigens that lead to the production of rogue antibodies that attack the brain, causing autoimmune encephalitis.

From Science Magazine • May 15, 2024

Herpes can be severe in certain cases: Babies can contract neonatal herpes from their mothers, putting them at risk for severe complications and even death.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2023

Herpes of the lips sometimes occurs in the commencement of the disease.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

Related Words

• AIDS
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