zoster

American

[zos-ter] / ˈzɒs tər /

noun

Also called herpes zoster. Pathology. shingles.
Greek Antiquity. a belt or girdle.

zoster British

/ ˈzɒstə /

noun

pathol short for herpes zoster

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of zoster

1595–1605; < Latin zōstēr < Greek zōstḗr girdle

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.

The vaccine protects against herpes zoster, a condition that causes a painful rash and can sometimes lead to long-lasting nerve pain.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, resulting in a painful rash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

It is caused by a reactivation of the Herpes zoster virus - the virus that causes chicken pox.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2024

While the rash most often spreads across one side of the scalp, neck, back or buttocks, the reactivated varicella zoster virus is capable of even worse mischief.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2023

Herpes zoster is sometimes followed by a catching of the breath, probably due to a little spasm in the muscles supplied by the nerve thus affected.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023