From Latin 'inflare' (to blow into) — originally physical swelling; the economic sense emerged in the 1830s.
Definition
A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money; the action of inflating or being inflated.
The Full Story
Latin14th centurywell-attested
From Latin 'inflātiō, inflātiōnis' (a blowing up, a swelling, a distension), from 'inflāre' (to blow into, to puff up, to inflate), composed of 'in-' (into) + 'flāre' (to blow), from PIE *bʰleh₁- (to blow, to swell). The word passed through several distinct semantic domains before reaching its modern economic meaning. In Roman medical writing, 'inflātiō' described pathological swelling — bloating, tumors, edema. In medieval theology, it denoted the sin
Did you know?
The word 'inflation' is related to 'flatulent' — both come from Latin 'flāre' (to blow). Economic inflation is the economy being 'puffed up' with too much money; flatulence is the body being 'puffed up' with too much gas. The theological meaning of 'inflation' — spiritual pride or puffiness of ego — was actually the word's primary sense for centuries before economists adopted it.
substance. From the same root *bʰleh₁- through Latin 'flāre' came 'deflate' (blow away), 'conflate' (blow together), 'soufflé' (via French 'souffler,' to puff), 'flatulent' (windy), and 'flavor' (originally 'a blowing,' then smell, then taste). Through Germanic, *bʰleh₁- produced Old English 'blāwan' (to blow), giving modern 'blow,' 'blast,' 'blaze,' 'bladder' (the blown-up organ), and 'blade' (the leaf that is blown). The word 'inflation' thus connects monetary policy to wind, breath, and pride through one ancient root. Key roots: flāre (Latin: "to blow"), *bʰleh₁- (Proto-Indo-European: "to blow, to swell").