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
Angus Watson, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
The city of Phoenix advised that residents should use fireworks in open spaces away from grass or flammable debris.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in these types of portable chargers, can be highly flammable.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 29 June 2025
Rubbing alcohol is highly flammable and should never be used around heat sources or open flames.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 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 21 Jul. 2025.
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flammable
adjective
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