stagflation

noun

stag·​fla·​tion ˌstag-ˈflā-shən 

: persistent inflation combined with stagnant consumer demand and relatively high unemployment

stagflationary

ˌstag-ˈflā-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

Stagflation is a portmanteau, that is, a word that blends two others (in this case, "stagnation" and "inflation"). The first documented use of the word appeared in 1965 in the writing of British politician Iain Macleod, who wrote, "We now have the worst of both worlds - not just inflation on the one side or stagnation on the other, but both of them together. We have a sort of 'stagflation' situation." Macleod is often credited with coining the term, and his linguistic invention was quickly embraced by economists in the United States, who used it to refer to the period of economic sluggishness and high inflation that affected the country in the 1970s.

Examples of stagflation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The European Central Bank is considering raising rates, but analysts said the war could cause European stagflation as higher prices hit demand in a region already struggling for growth. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026

For the Fed, the report deepens the potential stagflation bind. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026

Maybe this period will pass without stagflation or a dramatic price surge. —Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026

The longer the fighting and shipping disruptions last, the worse and more worrisome the cumulative impact becomes, and the more plausible the initial alarmist views about $200 crude oil and stagflation begin to seem. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

blend of stagnation and inflation

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stagflation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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