adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:IH2 N F L EY1 SH AH0 N EH2 R IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Causing or liable to cause inflation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The rapid influx of precious metals from the new mines had an inflationary effect on the specie based economy.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: deflationary
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of or relating to inflation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective
Meaning 3
associated with or tending to cause increases in inflation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
inflationary prices
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: deflationary
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English inflation Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusder. Middle English -arie English -ary English inflationary From inflation + -ary.
Across languages
Translations
6 source translations are retained for this English entry.