bird flu

noun

: avian influenza

specifically : severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections

Examples of bird flu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other agencies also have rehired some workers after mistakenly firing them, such as bird flu experts who were dismissed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025

And now consumers are valuing egg safety much more as bird flu has been blamed for record-setting egg prices and bare store shelves due to limited egg supplies. —Pete & Gerry's Contributor, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

According to the study, 67 percent of respondents blamed bird flu for the crisis, while 31 percent attributed the high cost of eggs to government policy and regulations. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

This was the first time transmission of bird flu between mammals was documented. —Hanna D. Paton, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bird flu

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Medical Definition

bird flu

noun

ˈbərd- 

: avian influenza

specifically : severe often fatal influenza A caused by strains of a subtype (H5N1) of the causative orthomyxovirus that have produced epidemics in domestic birds especially in Asia with sporadic associated human infections