stagflation

noun

stag·​fla·​tion ˌstag-ˈflā-shən 

: persistent inflation combined with stagnant consumer demand and relatively high unemployment

stagflationary

ˌstag-ˈflā-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

Stagflation is a portmanteau, that is, a word that blends two others (in this case, "stagnation" and "inflation"). The first documented use of the word appeared in 1965 in the writing of British politician Iain Macleod, who wrote, "We now have the worst of both worlds - not just inflation on the one side or stagnation on the other, but both of them together. We have a sort of 'stagflation' situation." Macleod is often credited with coining the term, and his linguistic invention was quickly embraced by economists in the United States, who used it to refer to the period of economic sluggishness and high inflation that affected the country in the 1970s.

Examples of stagflation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both sides of its dual mandate of stable prices and maximum employment are under stress, the likes of which has not been seen since the stagflation crisis of the 1970s and early 1980s. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

Many economists are predicting stagflation for the US economy. —Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The report soothed stagflation fears and added to hopes that the Federal Reserve could actually cut more times this year than previously anticipated. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2025

Potential stagflation poses difficulty for the Federal Reserve. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of stagnation and inflation

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stagflation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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