Inflammable Meaning and Definition
Inflammable
Pronunciation
/ɪnˈflæməbəl/
Part of Speech
Adjective
Definition
Potentially capable of catching fire or exploding; flammable.
Examples
- Do not smoke near open flames, as the materials are inflammable.
- The flammable liquids should be handled with caution and kept away from heat sources.
Synonyms
- Flammable
- Inferable
Antonyms
- Non-flammable
- Incombustible
Etymology
From Latin “inflamare”, meaning “to set on fire”, and “-able”, forming an adjective.
Usage Notes
Inflammable is often used to describe materials that can ignite or explode, but it is less common than the synonymous term “flammable”.
Cultural References
Inflammable is featured in the 2013 film “Gravity” as a term used by one of the astronauts to describe the flammable properties of the spacesuit.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“Like a damp squib” is an idiomatic expression that means something that is meant to be exciting or inflaming, but turns out to be dull or uninteresting.
Related Words or Phrases
Flammable, Combustible, Ignitable
Collocations
Inflammable materials, Inflammable liquids, Inflammable gases
Frequency of Use
Inflammable is a less common adjective in modern usage, and its frequency of use is relatively low compared to the synonymous term “flammable”.
Common Misspellings
Inflamable, Inflammaly, Inflaminable