inflation

American  

[in-fley-shuhn] / ɪnˈfleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Economics. a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money and resulting in the loss of value of currency (deflation ).

2. the act of inflating.

3. the state of being inflated. inflated.

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inflation British  

/ ɪnˈfleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of inflating or state of being inflated

2. economics a progressive increase in the general level of prices brought about by an expansion in demand or the money supply ( demand-pull inflation ) or by autonomous increases in costs ( cost-push inflation ) Compare deflation

3. informal the rate of increase of prices

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inflation Cultural  

1. A general increase in prices.

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Other Word Forms

• anti-inflation noun
• noninflation noun
• overinflation noun
• reinflation noun
• self-inflation noun

Etymology

Origin of inflation

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English inflacio(u)n, from Latin inflātiōn-, stem of inflātiō, equivalent to inflāt(us), past participle of inflāre “to blow on or into, puff out” + -iō -ion; inflate

Example Sentences

Interest fees will decrease as inflation drops, Reeves said.

From BBC

With citizens focused on practical needs—taming inflation, restoring services and creating jobs—Rodríguez may be able to leverage U.S. economic assistance to achieve something Maduro never secured: legitimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal

And if that happens, then my job to fight inflation is facilitated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even Lagarde’s critics today give her credit for managing to bring down inflation with higher interest rates without setting off a crisis in financially weaker countries like Italy.

From The Wall Street Journal

But several participants noted that they would have preferred language that kept rate hikes explicitly in play, should inflation remain above target.

From Barron's

Related Words

• boom
• expansion
• hike
• rise