influenza

American  

[in-floo-en-zuh] / ˌɪn fluˈɛn zə /

noun

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

• influenzal adjective
• influenzalike adjective
• postinfluenzal adjective

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

Example Sentences

For many people across the Northern Hemisphere, like Rowe, this holiday season was interrupted by an unwanted visitor: influenza.

From Salon

The same week the CDC announced cuts to recommendations for vaccines, San Mateo County reported that an unvaccinated child has died from influenza.

From Los Angeles Times

The study identified three key findings that together point to influenza as the main driver of these complications.

From Science Daily

The decision to drop the universal recommendation for influenza shots for children and adolescents comes amid what the CDC is calling a “moderately severe” influenza season, with flu rates elevated in most of the country.

From Barron's

The pharmaceutical giant said it had submitted regulatory filings in several countries, including the U.S., for marketing authorization of mRNA-1010, its messenger RNA-based vaccine targeting seasonal influenza strains.

From Barron's

Related Words

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