hyperinflation

American  

[hahy-per-in-fley-shuhn] / ˌhaɪ pər ɪnˈfleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. extreme or excessive inflation.

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hyperinflation British  

/ ˌhaɪpəɪnˈfleɪʃən /

noun

1. Also called: galloping inflation.  extremely high inflation, usually over 50 per cent per month, often involving social disorder

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Other Word Forms

• hyperinflationary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hyperinflation

First recorded in 1925–30; hyper- + inflation

Example Sentences

In the mid-2000s, Zimbabwe underwent a period of hyperinflation that resulted in printing banknotes worth 100 trillion dollars.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

But history is the unseen guest at every table; the country remains haunted by the memory of the hyperinflation that devastated the economy in the 1920s and helped propel the Nazis to power.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

If the conflict goes longer, the hit to GDP and inflation would be more acute, and some countries could be forced into recession or hyperinflation.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Even so, petroleum was still a lifeline for a nation mired in more than a decade of economic, political and social tumult marked by mass emigration, hyperinflation and a near-ubiquitous sense of despair.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

This program brought hyperinflation to a halt and encouraged a rise in foreign investment.

From The 1991 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• devaluation