inflation

Inflation is the act of filling something up with air. (noun)

An example of inflation is what happens to an air mattress when you blow it up.

Inflation is a steady increase in prices. (noun)

An example of inflation is a gallon of milk costing five dollars today when it cost fifty cents in the 1960s.

See inflation in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an inflating or being inflated
☆
1. an increase in the amount of money and credit in relation to the supply of goods and services
2. an increase in the general price level, resulting from this, specif., an excessive or persistent increase, causing a decline in purchasing power

See inflation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(ĭn-flāˈshən)

noun

The act of inflating or the state of being inflated.
A persistent increase in the level of consumer prices or a persistent decline in the purchasing power of money, caused by an increase in available currency and credit beyond the proportion of available goods and services.

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» inflation synonyms

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