inflation

American  

[in-fley-shuhn] / ɪnˈfleɪ ʃən /

noun

inflations plural

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 (opposed to deflation).

2. the act of inflating.

3. the state of being 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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inflations
  plural

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; see inflate

Explanation

Think of inflation as expansion, usually from being filled with air, like a balloon. This also refers to rising prices. Think of a balloon puffing up, getting fuller and fuller — that's inflation. The word has a bunch of related meanings. We can say people a little too full of themselves are suffering from inflation: they are full of hot air. When the cost of living is ballooning, that's economic inflation. When the universe was born in the big bang, there was a huge inflation, as matter spread out, creating galaxies, stars, and planets.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflation inflations

Many expect it to hold rates steady, but a renewed inflation scare has put a surprise increase in play.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The five Fed task forces—on communications, its inflation framework, and its asset holdings, among others—are meant to reopen questions Warsh believes central bankers and the economics profession had stopped asking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The trip comes at a mixed moment for Milei's economy, which has seen inflation on a downward trend over the past three months -- though it is still at 33.5 percent year-on-year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

The frenzy of AI investment is boosting inflation for a range of goods — such as consumer electronics — that also require memory and powerful chips.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

I tried to focus on the inflation hole, but that didn’t work, either.

From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman

He added: “I know I could not have been so calm through depressions, inflations, banking and currency crises, wars and political disruptions.”

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 18, 2026

Dr Chris Provan, the chair of RCGPs in Scotland, said: "Nationally, many GP practices are experiencing dire financial headwinds owing to historic underinvestment, the impact of inflations, and the impending national insurance contributions."

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2025

But Sotheby’s lawyers said that, while Rybolovlev and Sazonov had reason to be angry, they should blame themselves for failing to take reasonable measures to protect Rybolovlev from any price inflations.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2024

The second round showed inflations of between 28% and 42%.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2022

Not with balloons and their cumbrous inflations, but with machines capable of carrying the load, and traveling by displacement of the air at high velocities.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 312, December 24, 1881 by Various

Related Words

• boom
• expansion
• hike
• rise