inflation

American  

[in-fley-shuhn] / ɪnˈfleɪ ʃən /

noun

inflations plural

1. Economics. a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money and resulting in the loss of value of currency (opposed to deflation).

2. the act of inflating.

3. the state of being inflated.

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inflation British  

/ ɪnˈfleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of inflating or state of being inflated

2. economics a progressive increase in the general level of prices brought about by an expansion in demand or the money supply ( demand-pull inflation ) or by autonomous increases in costs ( cost-push inflation ) Compare deflation

3. informal the rate of increase of prices

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inflation Cultural  

1. A general increase in prices.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anti-inflation
  noun
• noninflation
  noun
• overinflation
  noun
• reinflation
  noun
• self-inflation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inflations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of inflation

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inflacio(u)n, from Latin inflātiōn-, stem of inflātiō, equivalent to inflāt(us), past participle of inflāre “to blow on or into, puff out” + -iō -ion; see inflate

Explanation

Think of inflation as expansion, usually from being filled with air, like a balloon. This also refers to rising prices. Think of a balloon puffing up, getting fuller and fuller — that's inflation. The word has a bunch of related meanings. We can say people a little too full of themselves are suffering from inflation: they are full of hot air. When the cost of living is ballooning, that's economic inflation. When the universe was born in the big bang, there was a huge inflation, as matter spread out, creating galaxies, stars, and planets.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflation inflations

Some view their record more charitably, and early last year said inflation was returning closer to target, before tariffs and then war in the Middle East stoked new pressures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Waller framed the concern bluntly this month: “Sternly staring at inflation until it melts before our withering gaze is not an option.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Marcos made the suggestion in a wide-ranging State of the Nation speech that placed spiralling energy costs and inflation, driven by the war in the Middle East, centre-stage.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Hunt and partner Van Hoisington run a firm in Austin that does one thing: It buys long-dated U.S. government bonds when it believes inflation is headed down, and sits on its hands when it doesn’t.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

We both knew it was worth more than a Zimbabwean dollar, especially with inflation, which was escalating daily.

From "I Will Always Write Back" by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

He added: “I know I could not have been so calm through depressions, inflations, banking and currency crises, wars and political disruptions.”

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 18, 2026

Dr Chris Provan, the chair of RCGPs in Scotland, said: "Nationally, many GP practices are experiencing dire financial headwinds owing to historic underinvestment, the impact of inflations, and the impending national insurance contributions."

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2025

But Sotheby’s lawyers said that, while Rybolovlev and Sazonov had reason to be angry, they should blame themselves for failing to take reasonable measures to protect Rybolovlev from any price inflations.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2024

The second round showed inflations of between 28% and 42%.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2022

Not with balloons and their cumbrous inflations, but with machines capable of carrying the load, and traveling by displacement of the air at high velocities.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 312, December 24, 1881 by Various

Related Words

• boom
• expansion
• hike
• rise