influenza
3 synonyms for influenza, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A contagious viral illness affecting the airways and lungs, often causing fever, aches, and fatigue.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
grippe
How to use influenza
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
influenza vaccine
influenza outbreak
strain of influenza
"Flu" is the everyday word; "influenza" is used in formal or medical contexts.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian influenza, "influence," from Latin influentia — early epidemics were blamed on the "influence" of the stars. A doublet of influence.
Full origin of influenza →Frequently asked questions
What does “influenza” mean?
The word “influenza” means a contagious viral illness affecting the airways and lungs, often causing fever, aches, and fatigue. In plain terms, the proper medical name for the flu.
How do you pronounce “influenza”?
“Influenza” is pronounced ihn-floo-EHN-zuh (/ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə/ in IPA).
How do you use “influenza” in a sentence?
Here is “influenza” used in a sentence: “Health officials urged people to get vaccinated ahead of influenza season.”
What part of speech is “influenza”?
“Influenza” is a noun.
Where does the word “influenza” come from?
The word “influenza” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Italian influenza, "influence," from Latin influentia — early epidemics were blamed on the "influence" of the stars. A doublet of influence.
Is “influenza” a common word?
“Influenza” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
