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

Police deployed tire deflation devices on the vehicle, which prompted three of the suspects to flee the vehicle on foot, but they were apprehended shortly afterward. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025

After striking a set of tire deflation devices, Finley stopped on the shoulder of the highway, and the witness exited the vehicle, according to court documents. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025

While other nations continue to battle inflation, Switzerland faces deflation, with consumer prices falling by an annual 0.1% in May. —Ganesh Rao,jenni Reid,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 19 June 2025

Officers deployed stop sticks, a tire deflation device, to stop the car. —David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 June 2025

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