1
2
: any of several virus diseases marked especially by respiratory or intestinal symptoms
Examples of flu in a Sentence
He came down with a bad bout of the flu.
Recent Examples on the Web
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
—
Maegan Vazquez, Washington Post, 19 June 2026
The latter reactions are common in a variety of vaccines, but occurred somewhat more often than with today’s flu shots.
—Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
But vaccines made with the Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology are faster to manufacture than other types — something experts say might help if the shape-shifting flu virus mutates in a way that requires suddenly brewing new doses to match.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Dozens of service members at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have fallen ill with the flu in the weeks since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the vaccine mandate, sources familiar confirmed to CBS News.
—Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flu
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.
Maegan Vazquez, Washington Post, 19 June 2026
The latter reactions are common in a variety of vaccines, but occurred somewhat more often than with today’s flu shots.
—Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
But vaccines made with the Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology are faster to manufacture than other types — something experts say might help if the shape-shifting flu virus mutates in a way that requires suddenly brewing new doses to match.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Dozens of service members at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have fallen ill with the flu in the weeks since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the vaccine mandate, sources familiar confirmed to CBS News.
—Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flu
Cite this Entry
“Flu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flu. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flu
noun2
: any of several virus diseases that are something like a cold
flu-like
adjective
ˈflü-ˌlīk
Medical Definition
flu
noun1
2
: any of several chiefly viral illnesses marked especially by respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms see intestinal flu
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
