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

There have been nine such declarations, including the Ebola outbreak in 2013, the COVID-19 pandemic and the swine flu pandemic in 2009.

From MarketWatch • May 17, 2026

The last one in 2009, called swine flu, was comparatively mild.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Experts have long recognized that the H5N1 virus that causes the disease has pandemic potential, just like COVID-19 or swine flu.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2025

It happened again in 2009, when a human and swine flu switched genes, unleashing the H1N1 swine flu outbreak that killed roughly 500,000 people.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2024

It’s like they have the swine flu and are trying to avoid germs.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed