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Synonyms

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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
inflation Cultural  

  1. A general increase in prices.

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Swiss inflation last month rose to its highest level since March last year, as the conflict in the Middle East pushed oil prices upward.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

As job gains have slowed, consumption has instead been underpinned by strong real wage growth, i.e., wages that have outpaced inflation.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

“The risks to the labor market and inflation both tilt in unfavorable directions, that is, toward a weaker labor market and a greater persistence of above-target inflation,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

Rising inflation risks tied to higher oil prices are clouding the outlook for interest-rate cuts, outweighing gold’s safe-haven appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

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

From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.