herpes simplex

American  

[hur-peez sim-pleks] / ˈhɜr piz ˈsɪm plɛks /

noun

1. either of two herpes diseases caused by a herpesvirus that infects humans and some other animals and produces small, transient blisters on the skin or mucous membranes, one type of virus herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1 usually associated with oral herpes but also causing genital herpes and the other herpes simplex virus type 2, or HSV-2 usually causing genital herpes.

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herpes simplex British  

/ ˈsɪmplɛks /

noun

1. an acute viral disease characterized by formation of clusters of watery blisters, esp on the margins of the lips and nostrils or on the genitals. It can be sexually transmitted and may recur fitfully

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Etymology

Origin of herpes simplex

First recorded in 1905–10; from New Latin: literally, “simple herpes”

Example Sentences

In Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2020, as in other military towns across the U.S., rates of sexually transmitted infections like syphilis, herpes simplex and HIV are among the highest in the country.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025

The herpes simplex virus is very common and up to 80 percent of Swedish adults may be infected.

From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2024

Deaths caused by HSV-1 - herpes simplex 1 - are almost unheard of in healthy people.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2023

The treatment, called Vyjuvek, uses an inactivated herpes simplex virus to deliver working copies of that gene.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 24, 2023

And nearly all of the viral-disease pairings involved “neurotropic” viruses—those that can invade the central nervous system, such as herpes simplex and herpes zoster and some strains of influenza.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 19, 2023

Related Words

• AIDS
• acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• gonorrhea
• herpes
• syphilis
• the clap
• venereal disease