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

On the water, teenagers jostle for control of an inflatable mattress -- the kind taken down sleep on in underground metro stations during Russia's nightly barrages.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

A giant inflatable UFC Freedom 250 boxing glove that looks vaguely like the Black Lives Matter fist.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026

The inflatable hardshell BOGAFiT mat that’s used — or “floating training platform,” as the class refers to it — looks like a wide paddleboard with a slightly raised yoga mat on its surface.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

What I can tell you for sure is that on Thursday, it will also have a 20-foot inflatable World Cup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

The inflatable shark naturally led to the puddle of heavy cream, which, if lapped from the floor with slow, steady precision, could account for up to twenty minutes of valuable stage time.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris