swine flu

noun

: swine influenza
also : influenza A of humans that is caused by a different strain of an orthomyxovirus subtype (H1N1) from those found in swine and that is marked especially by fever, sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

Examples of swine flu in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even the swine flu of 2009, which killed 12,500 people in the country within its first year, fizzled out in less than two years. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2025 During his tenure in public service, Fauci helped guide public policy on HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika and Ebola. — Andrea Wurzburger, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 The new data comes as the U.S. is now seeing signs of a slowdown in influenza, after a record wave that reached some of the worst levels since the 2009 swine flu pandemic. — Alexander Tin, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025 In 1976, at the first signs of an H1N1 swine flu outbreak in the U.S., public health officials quickly initiated a nationwide vaccine campaign. — Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for swine flu

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swine flu was in 1919

Rhymes for swine flu

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Browse Nearby Words

swine fever
swine flu
swineherd
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swine flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swine%20flu. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

swine flu

noun
: swine influenza
also : influenza of humans that is caused by a subtype (H1N1) of an orthomyxovirus (species Influenza A virus of the genus Influenzavirus A) originating in swine and is marked especially by fever, sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting
Among the swine flu cases in the United States, none had had any contact with pigs … — Marc Lacey and Donald G. McNeil Jr., The New York Times
As swine flu spreads from person to person around the world, it is most often being transmitted by coughing or sneezing … — Laura Landro, The Wall Street Journal

More from Merriam-Webster on swine flu

Nglish: Translation of swine flu for Spanish Speakers

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