inflation

noun

in·​fla·​tion in-ˈflā-shən 

1

: an act of inflating : a state of being inflated: such as

a

: distension

b

: a hypothetical extremely brief period of very rapid expansion of the universe immediately following the big bang

c

: empty pretentiousness : pomposity

2

: a continuing rise in the general price level usually attributed to an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods and services

Synonyms of inflation

• affectation
• arrogance
• pretense
• pretension
• vanity

Examples of inflation in a Sentence

the inflation of a balloon

The government has been unable to control inflation.

The rate of inflation is high.

Recent Examples on the Web

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said Sunday that the longer the Iran war goes on, the greater the risks of higher inflation and economic damage, all of which limit how much guidance the central bank should provide on rate policy right now. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 4 May 2026

The national debt and both parties’ willingness to continue spending money have devalued the dollar and continued our trend of rising inflation. —Kevin Fixler may 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026

When inflation finally began to move up in 2021, the Fed was slow to respond. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 May 2026

To compare, the first film carried a price tag of around $40 million, not adjusted for inflation. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inflation

• anti-inflation
• core inflation
• counter-inflation
• grade inflation
• headline inflation

Rhymes for inflation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

inflation

noun

in·​fla·​tion in-ˈflā-shən 

1

: an act of inflating : the state of being inflated

2

: a continual increase in the price of goods and services