inflation

in-fla-tion · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

  2. 2.

    The action of inflating something or the condition of being inflated.

  3. 3.

    An increase in the amount or extent of something beyond normal or proper limits.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    inflation rate — the percentage increase in prices over time
  • •
    runaway inflation — extremely rapid, uncontrolled inflation
  • •
    inflation-adjusted — values corrected for the effects of inflation

Related words

Antonyms: deflation, disinflation
See also: deflation, hyperinflation, inflate
Synonyms: price increase, rising prices

Etymology

From Latin inflatio ("a puffing up, swelling"), from inflare ("to blow into"), from in- ("into") + flare ("to blow").