varicella
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- varicellar adjective
Etymology
Origin of varicella
1765–75; < New Latin, equivalent to vari ( ola ) variola + -cella diminutive suffix
Explanation
Varicella is a very contagious virus that causes flu-like symptoms and an itchy rash. Another name for varicella is chickenpox. No matter what you call it, it's no fun. If your doctor mentions getting a varicella vaccine, now you'll know she's talking about giving you a shot to help prevent chickenpox. This medical term comes from Latin, and it's closely related to variola, or "smallpox." Both words share the root varius, "speckled or spotted." It's the spots, or small blisters, that make this illness so distinctive. They're obvious — and very itchy — evidence that you've come down with varicella.
Vocabulary lists containing varicella
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful rash with blisters that develops when the virus that causes chickenpox, varicella zoster, becomes active again later in life.
From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2026
Experts say adding the varicella vaccine to the official NHS childhood immunisation programme will dramatically reduce the number of people who catch chickenpox, leading to far fewer serious cases.
From BBC • Jan. 1, 2026
The agency now says that young children should be given separate MMR and varicella shots, rather than a combined shot.
From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025
The advisers also removed the government’s recommendation of a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, or chickenpox, for children under the age of 4, instead recommending the varicella shot be given separately.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 24, 2025
The so-called varicella prurigo of Hutchison of London2 includes several of the disorders considered above under the titles impetigo, impetigo contagiosa, and the vaccine rashes.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
