swine

[ swahyn ]

noun

, plural swine.

1. any stout, cloven-hoofed artiodactyl of the Old World family Suidae, having a thick hide sparsely covered with coarse hair, a disklike snout, and an often short, tasseled tail: now of worldwide distribution and hunted or raised for its meat and other products. Compare hog, pig ¹, wild boar.
2. the domestic hog, Sus scrofa.
3. a coarse, gross, or brutishly sensual person.
4. a contemptible person.

swine

/ swaɪn /

noun

1. swines a coarse or contemptible person
2. swine another name for a pig

Derived Forms

• ˈswineˌlike, adjective
• ˈswinishness, noun
• ˈswinishly, adverb
• ˈswinish, adjective

Other Words From

• swinelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swine¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English swīn; cognate with German Schwein hog, Latin suīnus (adj.) porcine; akin to sow ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of swine¹

Old English swīn; related to Old Norse svīn, Gothic swein, Latin suīnus relating to swine

Idioms and Phrases

see cast pearls before swine .

Example Sentences

Pigs can catch both bird and human influenza, in addition to swine flu.

From MIT Technology Review

During that period, Sinovac gained approvals to sell influenza, avian flu and swine flu vaccines in China.

From Washington Post

Because the swine flu was not nearly as lethal as the novel coronavirus, there was not nearly as much need to halt its spread.

From Washington Post

Based in Australia, the company is proud of a history that spans from its early use of plasma to beat diphtheria a century ago to helping develop the swine flu vaccine a decade ago.

From ProPublica

In 2009, the WHO was accused of acting too early in declaring swine flu a pandemic, in part over concerns it had been pressured by pharmaceutical companies.

From No Straight News

Gerald Ford and the swine flu pandemic that never happened in 1976 is a cautionary tale that government action can backfire.

From The Daily Beast

At “Iowa Swine Day” in 2013 he was voted the most effective speaker.

From The Daily Beast

Reuters hedline: “Deadly swine virus sweeps U.S.”  Disease is called porcine epidemic diarrhea.

From The Daily Beast

In southern states like Texas, backyard encounters with feral swine have become routine.

From The Daily Beast

Everyone in the mountains knew Hadji Murad, and how he slew the Russian swine.

From The Daily Beast

That dwell in sepulchres, and sleep in the temple of idols: that eat swine's flesh, and profane broth is in their vessels.

From Project Gutenberg

There are only four characters, to be sure, but 322 they are such a troop of swine!

From Project Gutenberg

This saying reminds us of that of our great Master: "Cast not your pearls before swine."

From Project Gutenberg

Howbeit one place is there wherein would I never seek for such a man 62 as thou, and that is in the swine-sty.

From Project Gutenberg

Cattle and swine were raised in countless numbers, the former more for draft purposes and the products of the dairy than for beef.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blackguard
• bounder
• cad
• cur
• knave
• rogue
• rotter
• scoundrel
• varlet
• worm
• wretch