Inflammable

Pronunciation

• enPR: Ä­nʹflăm-É™-bÉ™l, IPA: /ɪnˈflæmÉ™bÉ™l/

Origin

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

Full definition of inflammable

Adjective

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

• (capable of burning) combustible, flammable
• (easily excited) hot-headed, quick to anger

Antonyms

• (capable of burning) fireproof, incombustible, non-flammable
• (easily excited) level-headed, unflappable

Related terms

• inflammability
• inflammation
• inflame