inflammable

[ in-flam-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being set on fire; combustible; flammable.
2. easily aroused or excited, as to passion or anger; irascible:

   an inflammable disposition.

   Synonyms: choleric, volatile, fiery

noun

1. something inflammable.

inflammable

/ ɪnˈflæməbəl /

adjective

1. liable to catch fire; flammable
2. readily aroused to anger or passion

noun

1. something that is liable to catch fire

Usage

See flammable

Confusables Note

Inflammable and flammable both mean “combustible.” Inflammable is the older by about 200 years. Flammable now has certain technical uses, particularly as a warning on vehicles carrying combustible materials, because of a belief that some might interpret the intensive prefix in- of inflammable as a negative prefix and thus think the word means “noncombustible.” Inflammable is the word more usually used in nontechnical and figurative contexts: The speaker ignited the inflammable emotions of the crowd.

Derived Forms

• inˈflammably, adverb
• inˌflammaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• in·flamma·bili·ty in·flamma·ble·ness noun
• in·flamma·bly adverb
• nonin·flamma·bili·ty noun
• nonin·flamma·ble adjective
• nonin·flamma·ble·ness noun
• nonin·flamma·bly adverb
• unin·flamma·bili·ty noun
• unin·flamma·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflammable¹

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin inflammābilis, equivalent to Latin inflammā ( re ) to inflame + -bilis -ble

Example Sentences

Jerusalem, he warned, had become “inflammable ground where a careless word or gesture might set half a continent aflame.”

From Time

Observers of the scene back then described the crowd as “a caldron of inflammable material” with “revolution” on their minds.

From Time

So, after a bit of online research for inflammable kinds, we headed to the nearby home supply store and found what we needed for about $10.

From Washington Post

“Inflammable,” mildly suggested Mr. Pickwick, who thought something worse was coming.

From Project Gutenberg

The model was first filled with inflammable materials such as shavings and large blocks of wood, over which petroleum was poured.

From Project Gutenberg

Deluged as they were continually by heavy seas, nothing but the most inflammable substances would burn.

From Project Gutenberg

The combustibles and inflammable matters were shared between the three men and they separated.

From Project Gutenberg

An inflammable gas, apparently hydrogen, was evolved during the fusion.

From Project Gutenberg