deflation

noun

de·​fla·​tion di-ˈflā-shən 

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

di-ˈflā-shə-ˌner-ē 

ˌdē-

adjective

Examples of deflation in a Sentence

Economists worry that deflation will bring the country into recession.

Recent Examples on the Web

Persistent signs of deflation, trade tensions with the US, and flatlining growth appear to have pushed Chinese authorities to accelerate what had previously been lackluster efforts to do so. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Shares in those and other Japanese corporations are on a tear as Japan’s central bank raises rates to combat inflation after years of deflation. —John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

The overall effect is one of deflation. —Gideon Leek, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026

China’s deflation trap China’s deflationary spiral will deepen and Beijing won’t do anything to stop it. —Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deflation

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

Kids Definition

deflation

noun

de·​fla·​tion di-ˈflā-shən 

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

-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective