hay fever

noun

: an acute allergic reaction to pollen that is usually seasonal and is marked by sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion, and itching and watering of the eyes

called also pollinosis

Examples of hay fever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

History of Allergies Women with a history of allergies—which includes eczema, food allergies and hay fever—are more likely to get it because their immune systems are more likely to respond to irritants by triggering an inflammatory response. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026

These both contain pseudoephedrine, which can alleviate nasal congestion, watery eyes and other symptoms caused by hay fever or seasonal allergies. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

Your Allergy Symptoms May Improve Curcumin can help ease allergy symptoms in conditions such as asthma, dermatitis, and seasonal allergies (hay fever). —Lauren O'Connor, Health, 21 Nov. 2025

For example, no serious medical conference discusses treating hay fever with cocaine, and no respectable political science panel includes Nazis. —Gregory P. Magarian, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hay fever

• achiever
• believer
• deceiver
• perceiver
• receiver
• reliever
• retriever
• transceiver
• cleaver
• leaver
• weaver
• unbeliever

Kids Definition

hay fever

noun

: an allergy to pollen that is usually marked by sneezing, a runny or stuffed nose, and itchy and watering eyes

Medical Definition

hay fever

noun

ˈhā-ˌfē-vər 

: an acute allergic reaction to pollen that is usually seasonal and is marked by sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion, and itching and watering of the eyes

called also pollinosis