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

But Cho isn’t studying irksome effects like hay fever, or what pollen means for the plants that make it. —Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025

Azelastine has been available as an over-the-counter treatment for hay fever, according to a press release from Saarland University, and has previously been suggested to have an anti-viral effect against COVID and other respiratory viruses. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Spring is often seen as the peak of allergy season, but fall is also a common time of year to suffer from hay fever. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The active ingredient in a common over-the-counter allergy spray may do more than ease hay fever symptoms. —New Atlas, 2 Sep. 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