shingles

noun

shin·​gles ˈshiŋ-gəlz 

plural in form but singular in construction

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves that is associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pains and is caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox

called also herpes zoster, zoster

Examples of shingles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone with Medicare drug coverage will get free adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, including the shingles and tetanus-diphtheria-whooping cough vaccines. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Oct. 2022

Next year, seniors on Medicare will no longer have a copay for adult vaccinations, such as the shingles and pneumonia vaccines. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 16 Aug. 2022

Previously, some adult vaccines (such as the one for shingles) required a copayment in Medicare. —Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022

While the annual flu shot can range from $50 to $95 at CVS for those without insurance, an MMR vaccine goes for $135, a shingles vaccine goes for $179, and meningitis vaccines are a little over $200. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English schingles, by folk etymology from Medieval Latin cingulus, from Latin cingulum girdle — more at cingulum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

shingles

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

shin·​gles ˈshiŋ-gəlz 

: an acute viral inflammation of the sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves associated with a vesicular eruption and neuralgic pain and caused by reactivation of the herpesvirus causing chicken pox

called also herpes zoster, zona, zoster