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

Compare meaning

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

• genital herpes vs. shingles

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shingles

Additional research, including clinical trials, will be needed to establish whether shingles vaccination directly reduces the risk of developing dementia.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Shingrix was introduced in 2017 and is currently the only shingles vaccine available on the market.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Afterward, I discovered numerous shingles on the front of my roof had been lifted or blown off.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

Residents organized “porcupine patrols” to protect their gardens, amid homes with Victorian fish-scale shingles and Craftsman details.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

They come to a partial clearing, to a humble house covered with bleached brown shingles and surrounded by a low wall of flat stones.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri