deflation

[dih-fley-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of deflating or the state of being deflated.

2. Economics.,  a fall in the general price level or a contraction of credit and available money (inflation ).

3. the erosion of sand, soil, etc., by the action of the wind.

deflation

/ dɪˈfleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of deflating or state of being deflated

2. economics a reduction in the level of total spending and economic activity resulting in lower levels of output, employment, investment, trade, profits, and prices Compare disinflation

3. geology the removal of loose rock material, sand, and dust by the wind

deflation

1. The lifting and removal of fine, dry particles of silt, soil, and sand by the wind. Deflation is common in deserts and in coastal areas that have sand dunes.

deflation

1. A decrease in prices, often stated as an increase in the value of money, related to a decline in spending by consumers. (Compare inflation.)

Other Word Forms

• deflationary adjective
• deflationism noun
• deflationist noun
• nondeflation noun
• nondeflationary adjective
• self-deflation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflation¹

First recorded in 1890–95; deflate + -ion

Example Sentences

The deflation of a leg stump knocked back with the clock barely beyond midnight.

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Trade barriers to Chinese goods are rising, and its own economy is menaced by deflation, the outgrowth of its rampant production.

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He described “a slow-motion deflation” as a large number of generative artificial intelligence projects have failed and venture capital has dried up for some startup companies.

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America’s hostility to Chinese exports is triggering anxiety in Beijing about deflation as China is forced to absorb goods intended for foreign markets.

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Expectations are being managed to engineer an orderly deflation rather than a violent crash that could seriously harm AI’s credibility for years to come.

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Related Words

• bankruptcy 
• collapse 
• decline 
• downturn 
• hard times www.thesaurus.com
• inflation 
• shakeout 
• slide 
• slump 
• stagnation 
• unemployment