pig
pihg
Pig (noun) means a farm animal with a snout and cloven hooves, raised for meat. Example: “The pig rolled happily in the mud beside the fence.”
noun
1
A farm animal with a snout and cloven hooves, raised for meat.
"The pig rolled happily in the mud beside the fence."
"Children at the farm fed the young pigs with buckets of apples."
"The farmer kept a dozen pigs in the barn."
2
Someone who eats greedily or messily (informal, insulting).
"He's a real pig when it comes to chocolate biscuits."
"Stop being a pig and pass the crisps round."
"Don't be such a pig — leave some for everyone else."
3
A slang, disrespectful term for a police officer.
"The protesters chanted insults at the pigs lining the street."
verb
1
To eat greedily (informal, usually with "out").
"I pigged out on crisps while watching the film."
"We always pig out at my grandmother's house on Sundays."
"They pigged out on pizza after the game."
How to use pig
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe farm animal, or (informally) someone greedy, or slang for a police officer.
When to use it
"Pig" for police officer is slang and can be offensive; avoid it in neutral or formal contexts.
Common pairings
pig out
guinea pig
pigs in a blanket
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Word forms
- Plural
- pigs
- Third person singular
- pigs
- Past tense
- pigged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ rolled happily in the mud beside the fence.
Etymology
From Old English roots referring to a young swine; the slang sense meaning "police officer" has been recorded since at least the late 1700s.
Class of 1700
pig joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “pig” mean?
The word “pig” means a farm animal with a snout and cloven hooves, raised for meat. In plain terms, the farm animal, or (informally) someone greedy, or slang for a police officer.
How do you pronounce “pig”?
“Pig” is pronounced pihg (/pɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pig” in a sentence?
Here is “pig” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept a dozen pigs in the barn.”
What is another word for “pig”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pig” include grice, hog, oinker, piggy, porker and squealer.
What part of speech is “pig”?
Depending on how it is used, “pig” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pig” come from?
The word “pig” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Old English. From Old English roots referring to a young swine; the slang sense meaning "police officer" has been recorded since at least the late 1700s.
Is “pig” a common word?
“Pig” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “pig” have?
“Pig” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a farm animal with a snout and cloven hooves, raised for meat.
What is the difference between a pig and a hog?
Both refer to the farm animal with a snout and cloven hooves raised for meat. In general use pig is the everyday word, while hog often refers to a larger or fully grown pig, though the two are frequently used interchangeably.
What is the difference between a pig and a boar?
A pig is the farm animal raised for meat, while a boar usually refers to a wild pig or specifically to an uncastrated male pig. So a boar can be a type of pig, but the word carries a wilder or more specific meaning.
What is the difference between pig and pork?
Pig is the living farm animal with a snout and cloven hooves, whereas pork is the name for its meat once it is prepared for eating. This mirrors the pattern of cow and beef in English.
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