a highly contagious and often epidemic viral disease characterized by fever, prostration, muscular aches and pains, and inflammation of the respiratory passages
Also called: grippe or informal flu
Derived forms
influenzal (ˌinfluˈenzal)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from Italian, literally: influence, hence, incursion, epidemic (first applied to influenza in 1743)
influenza in American English
(ˌɪnfluˈɛnzə)
noun
1.
an acute, contagious, infectious disease, caused by any of various viruses and characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract, fever, and muscular pain
2.
any of various viral diseases of domestic animals, characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract
Derived forms
influenzal (ˌinfluˈenzal)
adjective
Word origin
It, lit., an influence (because attributed by astrologers to the influence of thestars) < ML influentia: see influence
Examples of 'influenza' in a sentence
influenza
For example, pneumonia and influenza still kill many seniors in this country each year.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
The influenza pandemic of 1918 is an example.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
If hospitals are buckling under the strain now, what would happen during an influenza pandemic?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed 50m.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
An influenza pandemic could infect half the population and kill between 50,000 and 750,000 people.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is a rich and absorbing story about the 1918 epidemic of Spanish influenza.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His mother died when he was a year old, during the 1918 influenza epidemic.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All over Indonesia the H5N1 strain of avian influenza was killing birds by the million.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They are also at risk from diseases such as influenza and measles, which can be deadly to people who have no natural resistance to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Word lists with
influenza
Human diseases
In other languages
influenza
British English: influenza /ˌɪnflʊˈɛnzə/ NOUN
Influenza is an illness caused by a virus. The symptoms are like those of a bad cold, but more serious.