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

She chose panels, which cost about $6,000, instead of applying single shingles because they were faster and easier to install.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

The solar cells are cut into narrow strips, layered like overlapping shingles, and connected to each other using electrically conductive adhesive, rather than metal wires.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 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

Researchers compared patients who received at least one dose of the recombinant shingles vaccine, known as RZV or Shingrix, with patients who remained unvaccinated.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

The barn looked freshly painted, and some of the roof shingles were the raw pink of new wood.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

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