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

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

• reinflatable adjective

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

When John Robinson remarried in late 2022, his guests at the Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh were greeted with an inflatable rat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Ross-Ho takes visibility even further with her inflatable soccer ball Earth, which weighs 78 pounds.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Footage shows the official arriving onshore in an inflatable small boat and handing over the eviction notice to Mandarin at a make-shift camp.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Specialised divers from the fire brigade assisted residents on inflatable boats, AFP journalists saw.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

A constant regurgitation of the top-twenty pop songs bursts from the open door, and a giant, inflatable unicorn is resting its plastic horn against the living room window.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman