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

Recent Examples on the Web

More children died from the flu this past season than any year outside of the swine flu pandemic in 2009. —Shiv Sudhakar, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2025

That’s more than at any time since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 7 May 2025

There were 216 children who died this season, according to a preliminary count from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most since 2009 when there was a global swine flu pandemic. —Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 2 May 2025

Yet, pandemics such as AIDS, swine flu and COVID-19 have proven how crucial these specialists are to saving lives. —Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for swine flu

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue

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