inflation

American  

[in-fley-shuhn] / ɪnˈfleɪ ʃən /

noun

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 (deflation ).

2. the act of inflating.

3. the state of being inflated. 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

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

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; 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

If "the price of oil is going up, inflation is going up and the stock market's going down, he's going to start to panic," he said.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Arend Kapteyn, global head of economics and strategy research at UBS, said the bank tracks inflation across roughly 45 major advanced and emerging economies, representing more than 85% of global GDP.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

They view the inflation spurt as the immediate issue that bonds will continue to fret over, keeping long tenor yields elevated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Although statistics show a decrease in poverty under Milei, mainly due to a sharp drop in inflation, family finances are in crisis, according to Central Bank reports.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The number has grown more than 400 percent since 1980, after adjusting for inflation, while the total number of households has grown only 27 percent.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• boom
• expansion
• hike
• rise