influenza

IPA/ˌɪnfluˈenzə/
KK[ˌɪnfluˈɛnzə]IPA/ˌɪnfluˈenzə/

influenza — noun

1. a common viral infection that affects the breathing system, causing symptoms suc

1.nounB2
Definition

a common viral infection that affects the breathing system, causing symptoms such as fever, body aches, sore throat, and tiredness — the more formal word for 'flu'

Example

Nala caught influenza during the winter and stayed home from school for a week.

collocation: caught / contracted + influenza

The doctor warned that influenza can be serious for elderly patients with weak immune systems.

influenza + can be serious for [vulnerable group]

Common collocations
  • catch / contract influenza
  • suffer from influenza
  • seasonal influenza
  • influenza virus
  • influenza vaccine / shot
  • influenza symptoms
  • influenza outbreak / epidemic
Synonyms
  • flu

    the everyday short form, used in speaking and informal writing

Usage Note

More formal than 'flu'. In everyday speech and informal writing, 'flu' is the usual word. 'Influenza' is used in medical contexts, official health announcements, and academic or formal writing.

Common Mistakes

I have influenza, so I will stay in bed today.
I have the flu, so I will stay in bed today.
'Influenza' sounds too formal for casual conversation; use 'flu' in everyday speech.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Influenza' and 'flu' refer to the same illness, but differ sharply in register. 'Flu' is the everyday word used in conversation, text messages, and informal writing. 'Influenza' is reserved for medical reports, official health announcements, and formal documents. 'Cold' describes a much milder viral infection with a runny nose and sneezing, not the fever and body aches typical of influenza. For example, a doctor writes 'influenza' on a medical chart but a patient says 'I had the flu last week.'

influenza ↗flu ↗cold ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • seasonally

Phrases

  • influenza A / B
  • avian influenza
  • swine influenza

Prepositions

Etymology

ItalianEnglish

From Italian 'influenza', meaning 'influence', because the disease was once thought to be caused by the influence of the stars or the weather. The word entered English in the mid-1700s and was shortened to 'flu' in the 1800s.