deflation

noun

de·​fla·​tion di-ˈflā-shən 

ˌdē-

1

: an act or instance of deflating : the state of being deflated

2

: a contraction in the volume of available money or credit that results in a general decline in prices

3

: the erosion of soil by the wind

deflationary

di-ˈflā-shə-ˌner-ē 

ˌdē-

adjective

Examples of deflation in a Sentence

Economists worry that deflation will bring the country into recession.

Recent Examples on the Web

The company’s revenue fell short of analysts’ estimates from FactSet, hurt by commodity deflation and a decline in core organic sales as the multifamily housing market continues to slow. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024

The inflation and deflation of the balloon acts as a suctioning force to help draw blood flow out from the heart during its contraction phase. —Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024

Between a deepening property crisis, deflation, near-record youth unemployment and increasing protest activity, stronger headwinds from the West is the last thing Beijing needs. —William Pesek, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Japan had several bouts of deflation from 1995 through the start of the pandemic. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

deflation

noun

de·​fla·​tion di-ˈflā-shən 

ˈdē-

1

: an act or instance of deflating : the state of being deflated

2

: a reduction in the volume of available money or credit resulting in a decline of the general price level

deflationary

-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective