inflammable

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Adjective[edit]

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[edit]

• 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[edit]

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

Antonyms[edit]

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

Related terms[edit]

• inflammability
• inflammation
• inflame

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

inflammable (plural inflammables)

1. Any inflammable substance.

Further reading[edit]

• inflammable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• inflammable in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Middle French inflammer +‎ -able, from Latin inflammabilis.

Pronunciation[edit]

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

Adjective[edit]

inflammable (plural inflammables)

1. flammable, inflammable

Antonyms[edit]

• ininflammable

Derived terms[edit]

• Condition: inflammabilité
• Antonym: ininflammable

Further reading[edit]

• “inflammable” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).