inflammable

English

Etymology

From Middle French inflammable, from Medieval Latin inflammabilis, from Latin inflammare (to set on fire), from in (in, on) + flamma (flame).

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

inflammable (comparative more inflammable, superlative most inflammable)

  1. Capable of burning; easily set on fire.
  2. (figuratively) Easily excited; set off by the slightest excuse; easily enraged or inflamed.

Usage notes

  • Inflammable can be misinterpreted as an antonym of flammable and so taken to have the opposite meaning to that intended. Where such confusion might arise, especially where this may be a safety hazard, one may prefer to use flammable or another synonym.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

inflammable (plural inflammables)

  1. Any inflammable substance.

Further reading


French

Etymology

Middle French inflammer + -able, from Latin inflammabilis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.fla.mabl/
  • Homophone: inflammables
  • Hyphenation: in‧fla‧mmable

Adjective

inflammable (plural inflammables)

  1. flammable, inflammable

Antonyms

Derived terms

Further reading

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