What does varicella mean?
Varicella is the formal medical term for chickenpox, a contagious viral illness best known for an itchy, blistering rash accompanied by fever. It is caused by varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for shingles. Varicella occurs most often in childhood and is usually mild in children, but it can cause complications in adults, pregnant people, newborn infants, and people with impaired immune systems. The word is especially common in medical and public-health discussions of symptoms, laboratory results, vaccination, outbreaks, and infection control. In ordinary conversation, chickenpox is far more familiar and is usually the preferred term. Varicella has a particular etymological interest: it comes from a Latin diminutive meaning “little pimple” or “little pustule,” reflecting an older attempt to name the disease by its skin lesions. Despite its technical sound, the word names an illness with a long-established place in childhood medicine.
nounVaricella is chickenpox, a contagious viral disease that typically causes an itchy, blistering rash and fever. It is caused by varicella-zoster virus, which can later reactivate as shingles.
- The viral disease commonly known as chickenpox, especially the childhood form characterized by fever and an itchy, blistering rash.
"The child was kept home from school because he had varicella."
"Varicella is generally mild in children, although adults and people with weakened immune systems can experience serious complications."
"Laboratory testing confirmed that the patient had been exposed to varicella."
Varicella is normally treated as an uncountable noun naming the disease, so it is not ordinarily pluralized.
"The outbreak was linked to cases of varicella at the school."
Varicella sounds technical, but it is the medical name for chickenpox—and behind the name is the story of a “little pimple.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of varicella
Varicella entered English from Modern Latin, where it was a diminutive of Latin varix, meaning “pustule” or “pimple.” Its ultimate connection lies in Latin varus, associated with a spot or blemish. The same root also underlies words such as varix, varicose, varication, and variola.
How varicella is actually used
Varicella is primarily used in medical, epidemiological, and public-health contexts; chickenpox is much more common in everyday speech. The term may also refer to the disease in formal discussions of infection, vaccination, outbreaks, and complications.
Easily confused with varicella
Varicella is chickenpox, caused by varicella-zoster virus, whereas smallpox is a different and historically far more severe viral disease caused by variola virus.