inflatable

American  

[in-fley-tuh-buhl] / ɪnˈfleɪ tə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being inflated. inflated.

2. designed or built to be inflated inflated before use.

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noun

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

Example Sentences

An inflatable radiant-baby pillow would run you $12.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

When a friend couldn’t make a trip along Route 66 to celebrate their 66th birthday, they bought an inflatable dummy, added his image to the head and included it in group photos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Across the tent, in a display of performance art, Amanda Ross-Ho continuously pushes a giant, inflatable Earth around a soccer field, symbolic of “the labor it takes to just keep things going all the time.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

By 2013, several international schools had installed giant inflatable domes around sport facilities to protect students.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

The heat at home was set to a normal sixty-seven degrees and there were no inflatable flamingos on the porch.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy