shingles

American  

[shing-guhlz] / ˈʃɪŋ gəlz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, especially by reactivated virus in an older person, characterized by skin eruptions and pain along the course of involved sensory nerves.

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shingles British  

/ ˈʃɪŋɡəlz /

noun

1. Technical names: herpes zoster, zoster. (functioning as singular) an acute viral disease affecting the ganglia of certain nerves, characterized by inflammation, pain, and skin eruptions along the course of the affected nerve

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shingles Scientific  

/ shĭng′gəlz /

1. See under herpes

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Etymology

Origin of shingles

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin cingulum, in Latin: “girdle,” from cingere “to gird, cinch” ( cf. cincture); translation of Greek zṓnē “belt” or zōstḗr “girdle”; see zone, zoster

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Compare meaning

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

• genital herpes vs. shingles

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shingles

"With solar shingles, we don't really have the benefit of that mapping; there's no room underneath the shingle for the electronics."

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

While it is painful and frustrating, shingles rarely leads to hospitalizations and causes fewer than 100 deaths a year in the U.S., according to the CDC.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

Biohackers are turning to the shingles vaccine to ward off heart issues and delay dementia, but doctors want to see clinical evidence from rigorous medical studies before making the case to their patients.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

Pharmacists can already prescribe medication for seven conditions - sore throat, earache, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, infected bites and urinary tract infections.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

The windows were all gone but the brick shell of the house remained, damp and blackened and steaming, and most of the roof, the dark slate shingles gleaming like fish scales from their recent soaking.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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