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

See Examples For:

herpes

Health experts say that for many people, the psychological impact of a genital herpes diagnosis - which is treatable but not curable - can be even greater than the physical symptoms.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

At the same time, he has insisted that he is “strongly pro-vaccine” and previously advised Rational Vaccines, a controversial organization dedicated to combating the herpes virus.

From Salon ● May 7, 2026

A modified herpes virus is injected into tumors, which causes cancer cells to burst and release flares that activate and train the immune system to attack cancer cells throughout the body.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

Additionally, the Safari Park has done extensive examination into the endotheliotropic herpes virus.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026

Herpes, hėr′pēz, n. the name of a group of diseases of the skin, characterised by the presence of clusters of vesicles on an inflamed base—Catarrhal herpes and Herpes zoster or Shingles.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

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