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

China’s consumer-price growth accelerated to the quickest in over three years and factory deflation moderated again, after a rally in energy markets and as household spending boomed during a later-than-usual Lunar New Year holiday. —Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026

China reported its highest inflation rate in three years, a welcome sign for a country grappling with deflation and moribund consumption. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026

While China’s economy expanded by 5% last year, the country has entered a fourth year of deflation amid real estate slump, weak consumer confidence and local government debt stress. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026

Still, China’s broader growth trajectory has flattened, weighed down by a prolonged property crisis, declined investment, tepid consumption and deflation. —John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 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