chicken pox

Cultural

A mild but highly contagious disease, caused by a virus and characterized by slight fever and the eruption of blisters on the skin. Chicken pox is classified as a disease of childhood, although it can occur in adults.

Discover More

Children who have had chicken pox are immune to future infection by the virus that causes it.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It will also prevent serious consequences if the child does go on to develop chicken pox and it really reduces the likelihood of hospital admission and any other serious consequences," she said.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

When someone gets chicken pox, usually in childhood, the virus does not fully leave the body.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2025

Nor was it ever used in vaccines against chicken pox, polio or pneumonia.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2025

So it keeps passing along like it's chicken pox.

From Salon • Aug. 6, 2024

It was rumored that she had had no childhood diseases, was never known to have chicken pox, croup or even a runny nose.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023