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

That keeps the stagflation risk alive and raises the probability that the next inflation prints continue to run too hot for comfort. —Tony Zhang, CNBC, 13 May 2026

Just weeks ago, the talk was of a possible recession or stagflation. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 11 May 2026

Iran war drive stagflation risk in Europe New data suggested the Iran war was pushing Europe into a toxic mix of low growth and high inflation. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

Goldman Sachs has warned of a stagflation-like effect as inflation risks rise even as growth slows, per Yahoo Finance’s April 2026 reporting. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

blend of stagnation and inflation

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stagflation

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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!