flammable
adjective
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Why Inflammable Is Not the Opposite of Flammable
Combustible and incombustible are opposites but flammable and inflammable are synonyms. Why? The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in- (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). Flammable also comes from flammare. In the early 20th century, firefighters worried that people might think inflammable meant "not able to catch fire," so they adopted flammable and nonflammable as official safety labels and encouraged their use to prevent confusion. In general use, flammable is now the preferred term for describing things that can catch fire, but inflammable is still occasionally used with that meaning as well.
Examples of flammable in a Sentence
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Most conventional batteries use a liquid electrolyte, which is flammable.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
Remember, essential oils are flammable, so never add them to dryers.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Frank Olton was discovered bound to a pole in the basement with multiple stab wounds after being doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire, police sources told the New York Post.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flammable
Cite this Entry
“Flammable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flammable. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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flammable
adjective
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