inflammable

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word inflammable. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word inflammable, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say inflammable in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word inflammable you have here. The definition of the word inflammable will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofinflammable, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From Middle French inflammable, from Medieval Latin īnflammābilis, from Latin īnflammāre (to set on fire), from in (in, on) + flamma (flame). Equivalent to inflame +‎ -able.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: ĭnʹflăm-ə-bəl, IPA(key): /ɪnˈflæməbəl/
    • (file)

Adjective

inflammable (comparative more inflammable, superlative most inflammable)

  1. Capable of burning; easily set on fire.
    Synonyms: combustible, flammable
    Antonyms: fireproof, incombustible, nonflammable, noninflammable, unflammable, uninflammable
    • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
      On he went a few paces and touched a second, then a third, and a fourth, till at last we were surrounded on all three sides by a great ring of bodies flaring furiously, the material with which they were preserved having rendered them so inflammable that the flames would literally spout out of the ears and mouth in tongues of fire a foot or more in length.
  2. (figuratively) Easily excited; set off by the slightest excuse; easily enraged or inflamed.
    Synonyms: hot-headed, quick to anger
    Antonyms: level-headed, unflappable
  3. (nonstandard) Incapable of burning; not easily set on fire.
    Synonyms: fireproof, incombustible, nonflammable, noninflammable, unflammable, uninflammable
    Antonyms: combustible, flammable

Usage notes

  • Inflammable is traditionally used to mean "capable of burning" (compare inflame meaning "set on fire"); the term flammable is a more recent back-formation. Recently, comparison with other words where in- means "not" (like inedible and inaccurate) has led to inflammable being used to mean "not flammable". Where confusion might arise, especially where this may be a safety hazard, one may prefer to use flammable or non-flammable, respectively.

Related terms

Translations

Noun

inflammable (plural inflammables)

  1. Any inflammable substance.

Further reading

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French inflammer +‎ -able, from Latin īnflammābilis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

inflammable (plural inflammables)

  1. flammable, inflammable
    Antonym: ininflammable

Derived terms

Further reading