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What is the Meaning of “Inflationary”?

Inflationary
/ɪnˈfleɪʃəneri/
adjective C1 Tier 4 (Top 10,000 words) formal

Causing prices to go up. Describes something that makes inflation happen or makes it worse.

Definition of Inflationary

Quick Meaning of Inflationary

Causing prices to go up. Describes something that makes inflation happen or makes it worse.

Detailed Definition of Inflationary

Causing, characterized by, or tending to produce inflation; relating to or resulting in an increase in the general price level of goods and services.

How to Pronounce Inflationary

IPA: /ɪnˈfleɪʃəneri/
in fla tion ar y

Stress pattern: oOooo (5-syllable word).

Tip: in-FLAY-shuh-ner-ee (5 syllables). Stress the second syllable: in-FLAY-shuh-ner-ee. The 'ay' is long like 'say'.

Watch out: Some learners stress the first syllable (IN-flay-shuh-ner-ee) or mispronounce the long 'ay'. Stress the second: in-FLAY-shuh-ner-ee.

Full pronunciation guide for “inflationary” →

Origin and Etymology of Inflationary

From 'inflation' + '-ary' suffix (characterized by, relating to). Inflation itself comes from Latin 'inflare' (to blow into, swell). The adjective 'inflationary' developed in 20th-century economics.

How to Use Inflationary in a Sentence

Each example shows “inflationary” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.

  • “The government worried about inflationary pressures from rising energy costs.”
    C1 formal
  • “Inflationary expectations can become self-fulfilling in economies.”
    C1 academic
  • “The central bank took inflationary concerns seriously in its policy decisions.”
    C1 conversation

Synonyms and Antonyms of Inflationary

Common Synonyms for Inflationary

Smart Synonyms for Inflationary — When to Use Each

price-increasing
Directly describes the effect of prices rising
inflation-causing
Technical phrase emphasizing the mechanism

Antonyms of Inflationary

See all synonyms for “inflationary” →

Common Collocations with Inflationary

These phrases pair with “inflationary” in everyday English:

  • inflationary pressure
  • inflationary expectations
  • inflationary trend
  • inflationary environment
  • inflationary spiral

Common Mistakes When Using Inflationary

Even fluent speakers slip up with “inflationary”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:

✗ Wrong: The inflationary was very high last year.
✓ Correct: Inflationary pressure was very high last year.
Why: Inflationary is an adjective; use it before a noun: 'inflationary pressure' not 'the inflationary'.
✗ Wrong: Inflationary expectations cause the prices rising.
✓ Correct: Inflationary expectations cause prices to rise.
Why: Use infinitive 'to rise' after 'cause'; not 'prices rising'.
✗ Wrong: The environment is very inflationary for business.
✓ Correct: The environment shows strong inflationary pressure on business.
Why: Use 'inflationary pressure' as the noun phrase; not just 'inflationary'.

Words Confused With Inflationary

Other Forms of Inflationary

Frequently Asked Questions About Inflationary

What is the meaning of "Inflationary"?

Causing prices to go up. Describes something that makes inflation happen or makes it worse.

How do you pronounce "Inflationary"?

The IPA is /ɪnˈfleɪʃəneri/. in-FLAY-shuh-ner-ee (5 syllables). Stress the second syllable: in-FLAY-shuh-ner-ee. The 'ay' is long like 'say'.

What part of speech is "Inflationary"?

"Inflationary" is an adjective at C1 level (Common European Framework).

What are synonyms for "Inflationary"?

Common synonyms include price-increasing, inflation-causing, rising-price.

How do you use "Inflationary" in a sentence?

For example: "The government worried about inflationary pressures from rising energy costs."

Explore Inflationary in Other Tools