swine flu

American  

[swahyn floo] / ˈswaɪn ˈflu /

noun

Pathology.

1. a form of influenza that afflicts pigs.

2. a form of influenza that afflicts humans by infection with a virus once thought to be very similar to the influenza virus found in North American pigs.

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swine flu Scientific  

/ swīn /

1. A highly contagious form of influenza seen in swine, caused by a virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. The infection is communicable to humans and caused a worldwide epidemic in 1918.

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Etymology

Origin of swine flu

First recorded in 1920–25

Compare meaning

How does swine-flu compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• swine flu vs. flu

Example Sentences

The only other diseases this has happened for in the past are Swine flu, polio, Ebola, Zika and Covid.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2022

Swine flu ended up killing fewer than 500 people in Britain, less than in a seasonal flu.

From New York Times • Jul. 20, 2020

Swine flu was in the news, so the enemies would be pigs.

From The Guardian • May 7, 2016

Swine flu was suspected, as were toxic chemicals or terrorism of some sort.

From Scientific American • Feb. 1, 2012

Swine flu was a hodgepodge of several different flu strains that had never been collectively seen together.

From Washington Post