# swine

/ˈswaɪn/ (US) · /swˈaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/swine
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a pig

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a pig, especially when talking about farming or animals in a group.

For teachers: a pig, specifically a member of the family Suidae; often used collectively in agricultural or technical contexts.

- The farmer kept a large herd of swine in the back field.
- Veterinary researchers monitored the local swine population for signs of the new respiratory virus that had affected nearby farms.

Usage: The plural form is usually 'swine', though 'swines' is occasionally seen in informal derogatory use.

### 2. an unpleasant person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a very cruel, selfish, or unpleasant person.

For teachers: a contemptible, unpleasant, or disgusting person; used as a harsh derogatory epithet.

- He treated his staff like garbage; he really was a total swine.
- The antagonist was portrayed as a manipulative swine who would betray his closest allies for a small profit.

Teaching tip: This is a strong insult in British English, though it feels slightly old-fashioned compared to modern swear words.

## Examples

- He is a total swine for lying to her like that.
- The farmer kept his swine in a large, clean pen near the barn.
- In the classic novel, the antagonist is portrayed as a greedy swine who cares for nothing but his own wealth and status.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.