inflatable

American  

[in-fley-tuh-buhl] / ɪnˈfleɪ tə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being inflated.

2. designed or built to be inflated before use.

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noun

• inflatables
  plural

1. an inflatable object, device, or structure, especially a small rubber boat that is inflated with air.

inflatable British  

/ ɪnˈfleɪtəbəl /

noun

1. any of various large air-filled objects made of strong plastic or rubber, used for children to play on at fairs, carnivals, etc

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adjective

1. capable of being inflated

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reinflatable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inflatables
  plural

Etymology

Origin of inflatable

First recorded in 1875–80; inflate + -able

Explanation

Something inflatable can be blown up or filled with air. A balloon is inflatable — you can either blow it up, or fill it with helium so that it floats. Car tires are inflatable, and so are beach balls, bicycle inner tubes, floating pool toys, bouncy castles, air mattresses, and some lightweight boats. If you're in a car accident, the inflatable air bag will fill quickly to protect you from hitting the dashboard. The adjective inflatable comes from the Latin inflare, "to blow into or puff up."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflatable inflatables

Spanish officials began installing a makeshift, inflatable barrier extending 500 yards from a breakwater where many migrants had swum.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Early on Saturday, Spanish officials said they began installing a makeshift, inflatable barrier that extends out some 500 yards from a breakwater where some of the migrants had swum into the enclave.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

Prosecutor Lucie Fish told the court that, on Thursday, a rigid hulled inflatable boat departed the French coast headed towards Dover carrying the migrants.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Officers who had been recovered from the river were seen being treated by paramedics on a rigid black inflatable boat moored to the side of the river.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

I began with inflatable swimmies on my arms, which Mrs. Hagen deflated a little at a time.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Elsewhere, locals flocked to the Canal Saint-Martin in the north of the city, some with inflatables, after the authorities allowed swimming there due to the heat.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

Her “Floating Score,” inspired by Andy Warhol’s “Silver Clouds,” features 10 mirrored inflatables that, according to her artist statement, “will twirl rhythmically above the crowds, changing position, order and orientation.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

The family had been paddleboarding and kayaking in Geographe Bay, near Quindalup in Western Australia, on Friday when strong winds pushed their inflatables off course, police said.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026

If you’re looking to go big on your decor, skeletons, gravestones and inflatables are perfect to transform your home into a real-life haunted house.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2025

The DC inflatables were not powerful as symbols the way the Portland frog is; their absurdity did not clash so dramatically against their fellow goofy marchers.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2025