pig

¹ American  

[pig] / pɪg /

noun

1. a young swine of either sex, especially a domestic hog, Sus scrofa, typically weighing less than 300 pounds (136 kilograms).

2. any wild or domestic swine in the genus Sus, within the family Suidae Old World pigs.

3. the flesh of swine; pork.

4. Informal. a person of piggish character, behavior, or habits, as one who is gluttonous, very fat, greedy, selfish, or filthy.

5. Slang: Disparaging. a police officer.

6. Slang. an extremely rude, ill-mannered person, especially one who is sexist or racist.

7. Slang. an immoral woman, especially a prostitute.

8. Machinery. any tool or device, as a long-handled brush or scraper, used to clear the interior of a pipe or duct.

9. Metallurgy.

   1. an oblong mass of metal that has been run while still molten into a mold of sand or the like, especially such a mass of iron from a blast furnace.

   2. one of the molds for such masses of metal.

   3. metal in the form of such masses.

   4. pig iron.

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verb (used with object)

pigged, pigging

1. Metallurgy. to mold (metal) into oblong masses.

2. Informal. to eat (something) quickly; gulp.

   He pigged three doughnuts and ran off to school.

verb (used without object)

pigged, pigging

1. to bring forth pigs; farrow.

verb phrase

1. pig out to overindulge in eating.

   We pigged out on pizza last night.

idioms

1. pig it,

   1. to live like a pig, especially in dirt.

   2. to lead a disorganized, makeshift life; live without plan or pattern.

2. on the pig's back, in a fortunate position.

pig ² American  

[pig] / pɪg /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. an earthenware crock, pot, pitcher, or jar.

2. potter's clay; earthenware as a material.

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pig British  

/ pɪɡ /

noun

1. any artiodactyl mammal of the African and Eurasian family Suidae, esp Sus scrofa ( domestic pig ), typically having a long head with a movable snout, a thick bristle-covered skin, and, in wild species, long curved tusks

2. a domesticated pig weighing more than 120 pounds (54 kg)

3. informal a dirty, greedy, or bad-mannered person

4. the meat of swine; pork

5. derogatory a slang word for policeman

6. 1. a mass of metal, such as iron, copper, or lead, cast into a simple shape for ease of storing or transportation

   2. a mould in which such a mass of metal is formed

7. informal something that is difficult or unpleasant

8. an automated device propelled through a duct or pipeline to clear impediments or check for faults, leaks, etc

9. something bought or received without prior sight or knowledge

10. informal to overindulge oneself

11. successful; established

    he's on the pig's back now

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verb

1. (intr) (of a sow) to give birth

2. Also: pig it.  informal (intr) to live in squalor

3. informal (tr) to devour (food) greedily

pig More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pig

• in a pig's eye
• like pigs in clover
• make a pig of oneself
• when pigs fly

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Usage

Where does pig come from? Let’s start with a little swine quiz: what’s the difference between a pig and a hog? In the barnyard, a pig is a young domestic hog. Generally speaking, a pig weighs less than 120 pounds, the hog is much heavier. Like the word dog, forms of the word pig and hog are found in Old English, however their ultimate origin is obscure. Etymologists think that final -g in dog, pig, and hog are related, though. Discover more everyday words with unknown roots in our slideshow, “‘Dog,’ ‘Boy,’ And Other Words That We Don’t Know Where They Came From."

Why do we raise pigs but eat pork? Same goes for cow vs. beef. It is because of the influence of French (and its higher social status) in Middle English. Via French, pork comes from the Latin porcus, "pig, hog."

Now that you know how pigs got their name, why not find out how some of our other most beloved pets got theirs in the slideshow: "Where Do The Words For Our Pets Come From?"

Etymology

Origin of pig¹

First recorded before 1100; Middle English peg, pyg, pyge, pigge “young pig,” Old English picbrēd “pigbread,” i.e., acorns or stale bread used as fodder; further origin uncertain

Origin of pig²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English pygg; further origin uncertain

Explanation

Oink. A pig is a farm animal with a curly tail, hooves, floppy ears, and a flat snout for rooting. Cooked pig is popular, but the pig from Charlotte’s Web is saved from becoming bacon by a crafty spider. Pigs are omnivores — they eat both plants and meat — and on small farms, they're fed kitchen leftovers as well as their basic diet. Their dining habits have given pigs the reputation of being greedy, and led to the informal use of pig to mean "greedy person," and pig out to mean "eat voraciously." Another colloquial meaning of pig, one that's been considered derogatory since it was coined in the nineteenth century, is "police officer."

Example Sentences

The American Mini Pig Association derides the use of terms like “teacup” as misleading and discourages promises of adult pigs under 75 pounds in its code of ethics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Abrahams played on Tull's first album, This Was, but left shortly after it was finished, and went on to found another successful band, Blodwyn Pig.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025

The biggest insult was the Brisbane crowd voting Australia's Bluey as the superior children's cartoon to the UK's Peppa Pig.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025

The Southern California Guinea Pig Rescue group can be reached at [email protected] or through its website.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2025

Pig iron production fell by half, and new rail construction shrank almost to nothing.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• boar
• hog
• piglet
• swine