pig
1 Americannoun
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a young swine of either sex, especially a domestic hog, Sus scrofa, typically weighing less than 300 pounds (136 kilograms).
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any wild or domestic swine in the genus Sus, within the family Suidae Old World pigs.
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the flesh of swine; pork.
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Informal. a person of piggish character, behavior, or habits, as one who is gluttonous, very fat, greedy, selfish, or filthy.
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Slang: Disparaging. a police officer.
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Slang. an extremely rude, ill-mannered person, especially one who is sexist or racist.
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Slang. an immoral woman, especially a prostitute.
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Machinery. any tool or device, as a long-handled brush or scraper, used to clear the interior of a pipe or duct.
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Metallurgy.
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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.
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one of the molds for such masses of metal.
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metal in the form of such masses.
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verb (used with object)
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Metallurgy. to mold (metal) into oblong masses.
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Informal. to eat (something) quickly; gulp.
He pigged three doughnuts and ran off to school.
verb (used without object)
verb phrase
idioms
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pig it,
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to live like a pig, especially in dirt.
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to lead a disorganized, makeshift life; live without plan or pattern.
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on the pig's back, in a fortunate position.
noun
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an earthenware crock, pot, pitcher, or jar.
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potter's clay; earthenware as a material.
noun
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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
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a domesticated pig weighing more than 120 pounds (54 kg)
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informal a dirty, greedy, or bad-mannered person
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the meat of swine; pork
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derogatory a slang word for policeman
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a mass of metal, such as iron, copper, or lead, cast into a simple shape for ease of storing or transportation
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a mould in which such a mass of metal is formed
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informal something that is difficult or unpleasant
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an automated device propelled through a duct or pipeline to clear impediments or check for faults, leaks, etc
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something bought or received without prior sight or knowledge
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informal to overindulge oneself
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successful; established
he's on the pig's back now
verb
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(intr) (of a sow) to give birth
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Also: pig it. informal (intr) to live in squalor
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informal (tr) to devour (food) greedily
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
You don’t want your guest to be a guinea pig.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
It was the law of the blocked road and the fouled well—a pig loose on the highway, a tannery poisoning a shared stream, gunpowder stored where it might ignite and level the block.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Some irregular food items such as chicken and pig were also detected in the samples, suggesting that wolves are also scavenging from human waste disposal sites.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
It means Scottish pig farmers are losing up to £1,000 per sow place, according to NFU Scotland.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
She swallowed hard, wishing someone would take the pig away.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
I may have pigged out on Thanksgiving, but I will not eat myself into a stupor during the rest of the holidays.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 11, 2018
We’ve just been there and me and all my crew just pigged out.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 25, 2015
Victor pigged out on sushi and cashews at the art opening, and only realized as he left that he’d overdoeuvred, and would be too full to enjoy his long-awaited dinner at Gramercy Tavern with Dulcie.
From New York Times ● Mar. 24, 2014
That was the championship formula the way the Heat did it, except they pigged out with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade in Miami.
From Chicago Tribune ● Nov. 26, 2013
In fact, most people pigged out just before they turned, knowing it would all be sucked away.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Rannells may be too much in his element, while Kidman appears in danger of being chewed up with the scenery her castmates are pigging out on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2020
They are undergoing pigging - a process in which a device travels through the pipeline cleaning and taking measurements, including wall thickness - every three years rather than the five years as required.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 7, 2016
The 2016 presidential candidates had a deep-fried field day last summer at the Iowa State Fair, pigging out on everything from pork chops on a stick to breaded-and-fried Snickers bars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2016
That means giving people options that don't make them feel like they're pigging out.
From US News ● Aug. 28, 2015
“I’m not the one pigging out on a sundae.”
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
