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

---

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

A measure of prices, meanwhile, leapt to a three-year high in a sign of budding inflation.

From MarketWatch

The Fed president said the central bank should be prepared to address elevated inflation proactively so that it doesn’t get stuck near 3% in the long run.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It will come through the inflation, and then I think it will cut the economic growth in many countries, and especially in emerging and developing countries, where they don’t have the hard currencies,” he said.

From MarketWatch

“The new ‘magic number’ reflects a convergence of factors — from persistent inflation and longer life expectancies, to uncertainty about the future of Social Security,” said John Roberts, chief field officer at Northwestern Mutual.

From MarketWatch

It is expected to boost inflation through higher gasoline prices but also to dampen growth as consumers see a decline in discretionary spending power.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• boom
• expansion
• hike
• rise