Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily ignited or set on fire: Describes a substance or material that can catch fire and burn readily when exposed to a source of ignition, such as a spark or flame. It is a safety warning term.
   • Easily excited or aroused to strong emotion: (Figurative, less common) Describes a person or situation prone to becoming very angry or emotionally charged.

Usage

• The primary and most critical use of "inflammable" is as a safety label on materials. It is a warning that a substance poses a fire hazard.
• Important Note: "Inflammable" means the same thing as "flammable." Both words indicate that something can easily catch fire. The prefix "in-" in this case comes from the Latin "inflammare" (to set on fire), not the English negative prefix "in-" meaning "not." To avoid dangerous confusion, "flammable" is now the preferred term on warning labels, while "inflammable" is still correct but used less frequently in technical contexts.

Examples

• Adjective (Literal meaning):
  • Gasoline is highly inflammable and must be stored away from heat sources.
  • The warehouse contained inflammable chemicals, so smoking was strictly prohibited.
• Adjective (Figurative meaning):
  • The politician's inflammable rhetoric often incited strong reactions from the crowd.
  • He has an inflammable temper and gets angry over small things.

Advanced Usage

• "Inflammable material": A standard phrase used to classify hazardous substances in safety regulations and data sheets.
  • All inflammable materials must be stored in the designated safety cabinet.

Variants and Related Words

• Flammable (adj): The preferred synonym in modern safety language, having the same meaning (easily set on fire).
• Nonflammable (adj): The correct antonym, meaning not easily set on fire.
• Inflammation (n): A medical condition where part of the body becomes red, swollen, and painful. This shares the Latin root but has a different meaning.
• Inflame (v): To provoke or intensify strong feelings, or to cause inflammation in the body.

Synonyms

• Flammable: Easily set on fire.
• Combustible: Capable of catching fire and burning.
• Volatile: (In chemistry) Evaporating rapidly at normal temperatures and potentially flammable.

Antonyms

• Nonflammable: Not easily set on fire.
• Fireproof: Designed to resist burning.
• Incombustible: Incapable of being burned.

Common Errors and Clarifications

• Error: Using "inflammable" to mean "not flammable." This is a dangerous misunderstanding. Historically, this confusion has led to accidents.
• Clarification: Remember: Flammable = Inflammable. Both mean "catches fire easily." The word for "not catching fire easily" is nonflammable.

Adjective

1. easily ignited