deflation

noun

de·​fla·​tion di-ˈflā-shən How to pronounce deflation (audio)
ˌdē-
1
: an act or instance of deflating : the state of being deflated
2
: a contraction in the volume of available money or credit that results in a general decline in prices
3
: the erosion of soil by the wind
deflationary adjective

Examples of deflation in a Sentence

Economists worry that deflation will bring the country into recession.
Recent Examples on the Web Restoring economic confidence The economy was in the spotlight this year as China has been roiled by a property sector crisis, hefty local government debt, deflation, a stock market rout and tech friction with the US — all fueling public frustration and a loss of investor confidence. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Now, instead of soaring prices, China is trying to fend off a potentially debilitating cycle of deflation, or chronically falling prices. Dake Kang and Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Keep in mind that this is in the context of deflation – prices in China fell 0.8% in January, the steepest decline in 14 years. Nikki Baird, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Yet economists are cautiously optimistic that Japan might be able to reverse long-running deflation—and become more of a normal economy again. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 23 Feb. 2024 In China, a stalling economy has led to a steady decline in prices, falling by the most since the global financial crisis in 2009 and verging on a phenomenon known as deflation. Olivia Wang, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 In January, the apparent deflation problem worsened, raising fears that falling prices are a sign of a weakening economy. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2024 That latest drive to slash prices at the discount furniture store—despite rising commodities prices and high transport costs—is also the latest sign of deflation driven by massive global retailers after months of sustained price increases. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 29 Nov. 2023 Related article China sinks deeper into deflation as prices fall at fastest rate in 15 years The announcement of the economic growth target for 2024, set to be delivered by Premier Li on Tuesday, is among the most important issues to watch during the two sessions. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deflation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deflation was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near deflation

Cite this Entry

“Deflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deflation

noun
de·​fla·​tion di-ˈflā-shən How to pronounce deflation (audio)
ˈdē-
1
: an act or instance of deflating : the state of being deflated
2
: a reduction in the volume of available money or credit resulting in a decline of the general price level
deflationary adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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