noun
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the act of inflating or state of being inflated
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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
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informal the rate of increase of prices
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing inflation
Human Geography - High School
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Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Western Europe - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inflation data for May will be closely watched in the Philippines and Thailand.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Inflation and higher gas prices are dampening the national mood.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Inflation concerns in the bond market have ramped up even as the mood among stock investors turned practically ebullient, despite stock valuations that still look a bit pricey compared with history.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Inflation could easily become the bull market’s next hurdle—and some stocks are poised to fare much better than others.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Inflation theory explains the ripples and eddies that make our universe possible.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
