inflationary

adjective

in·​fla·​tion·​ary in-ˈflā-shə-ˌner-ē 

: of, characterized by, or productive of inflation

inflationary policies

Examples of inflationary in a Sentence

He blames the bad economy on the government's inflationary policies.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a House committee that businesses' rush to build their inventories earlier this year ahead of tariffs taking effect has helped delay any inflationary impacts from the import duties. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 26 June 2025

Even in today’s inflationary times, that number is basically a shorthand for a lot of money. —Anna North, Vox, 26 June 2025

On the other hand, the many issues that could roil markets—from the Middle East, to the looming inflationary impacts of tariffs, to an unprecedented government spending bill—are in a holding pattern. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 June 2025

The Federal Reserve's stance reveals perhaps the clearest evidence that policymakers anticipate the inflationary surge ahead. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing inflationary

• anti-inflationary
• counter-inflationary
• inflationary spiral

Rhymes for inflationary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

inflationary

adjective

in·​fla·​tion·​ary in-ˈflā-shə-ˌner-ē 

: of, relating to, or causing inflation

an inflationary policy