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noun Uncommon

swine

swyn

Swine (noun) means a pig, especially a domesticated one raised for farming. Example: “The farm kept several dozen swine in the back paddock.”

noun
1
A pig, especially a domesticated one raised for farming.
"The farm kept several dozen swine in the back paddock."
2
A contemptible or unpleasant person.
"He called his ex-business partner a swine after the betrayal."

How to use swine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pig, or, insultingly, a horrible person.

When to use it

The insult sense is old-fashioned and mostly used in British English.

Common pairings
a herd of swine you swine

Word forms

swine plural, swines plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farm kept several dozen _____ in the back paddock.

Etymology

From Old English swin, "pig" — an ancient word going back to a shared Indo-European root for the animal, related to the Latin sus and Greek hys.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for swine

See all rhymes for swine →

Frequently asked questions

What does “swine” mean?

The word “swine” means a pig, especially a domesticated one raised for farming. In plain terms, a pig, or, insultingly, a horrible person.

How do you pronounce “swine”?

“Swine” is pronounced swyn (/swaɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “swine” in a sentence?

Here is “swine” used in a sentence: “The farm kept several dozen swine in the back paddock.”

What part of speech is “swine”?

“Swine” is a noun.

Where does the word “swine” come from?

The word “swine” comes from Latin. From Old English swin, "pig" — an ancient word going back to a shared Indo-European root for the animal, related to the Latin sus and Greek hys.

Is “swine” a common word?

“Swine” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “swine” have?

“Swine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pig, especially a domesticated one raised for farming.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial