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
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2025
Soliman allegedly entered the park carrying a backpack with 18 glass bottles and jars, as well as flammable liquid and red rags, and approached the group, according to the Justice Department.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 15 July 2025
The wildland-urban interface is the area where human development meets natural terrain and flammable vegetation, according to the Colorado State Forest Service.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
Emergency crews ventilated the building and checked for any other flammable hazards before turning the investigation over to police detectives and fire investigators.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 11 July 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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flammable
adjective
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