influenza

American  

[in-floo-en-zuh] / ˌɪn fluˈɛn zə /

noun

influenzas plural

1. Pathology. an acute, commonly epidemic disease, occurring in several forms, caused by numerous rapidly mutating viral strains and characterized by respiratory symptoms and general prostration.

2. Veterinary Pathology. an acute, contagious disease occurring in horses and swine, characterized by fever, depression, and catarrhal inflammations of the eyes, nasal passages, and bronchi, and caused by a virus.

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influenza British  

/ ˌɪnflʊˈɛnzə /

noun

1. Also called: grippe.   flu.  informal a highly contagious and often epidemic viral disease characterized by fever, prostration, muscular aches and pains, and inflammation of the respiratory passages

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influenza Scientific  

/ ĭn′flo̅o̅-ĕn′zə /

1. A highly contagious infectious disease that is caused by any of various viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae and is characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms, fatigue, and muscle pain. It commonly occurs in epidemics, one of which killed 20 million people between 1917 and 1919.

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influenza Cultural  

1. Commonly called the flu; an acute and infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by a virus and characterized by fever, muscle pain, headache, and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the respiratory tract.

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Word History

Since ancient times, influenza has periodically swept the world. Until recently, people could not tell how this illness, which we call the flu, could spread so widely. Before people knew that organisms cause disease, they thought the stars influenced the spread of influenza. Influenza comes ultimately from the Latin word influentia, meaning “influence of the stars.” Today, however, the stars are no longer blamed for the flu. Inhaling influenza viruses causes the spread of the illness.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• influenzal
  adjective
• influenzalike
  adjective
• postinfluenzal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• influenzas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of influenza

1735–45; < Italian < Medieval Latin influentia influence

Compare meaning

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

• parainfluenza vs. influenza

Explanation

An influenza is a contagious viral infection. Influenzas tend to spread during the winter, and they're more commonly known as the flu. If you've ever wondered why this word looks so much like influence, that’s because both come from the Italian influentia. The original idea was a flowing in — of ethereal fluid from the heavens, thus affecting human destiny. We know now influenza is caused by viruses, not heavenly fluid. When you have an influenza, you're likely to vomit, have diarrhea, be exhausted, and feel terrible overall. One way to prevent influenza is by getting a flu shot.

Example Sentences

Plagues have existed throughout history, said Heeney, from the Black Death of the Middle Ages ages to the 1918-20 influenza pandemic which killed an estimated 25-50 million globally.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

The company's vaccine development pipeline also includes candidates targeting seasonal influenza, pandemic influenza threats, hemorrhagic fever viruses, and coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

That is lower than for measles and some strains of Covid-19 but higher than for influenza.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

"The symptoms are classically of respiratory illness, rather like a severe influenza infection or Covid-19 - people get very breathless," said centre director Prof Emma Thomson.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

For two days I had been in bed with influenza.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• contagion
• curse
• epidemic
• infection
• infestation
• invasion
• outbreak
• pandemic
• scourge