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
Chloe Veltman, NPR, 31 Mar. 2025
The new plan includes additional focus on hazardous vegetation that could enable the spread of wildfires when not properly maintained or when invasive, flammable species are present.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Authorities said at least one person threw Molotov cocktails—crude bombs filled with gasoline or another flammable liquid—and fired several rounds from a weapon into the vehicles.
—TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
Give it a clear 3-foot radius, and keep it clear of flammable items like furniture and blankets.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 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 26 Apr. 2025.
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flammable
adjective
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