stagflation
noun
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Stagflation is a portmanteau, that is, a word that blends two others (in this case, "stagnation" and "inflation"). The first documented use of the word appeared in 1965 in the writing of British politician Iain Macleod, who wrote, "We now have the worst of both worlds - not just inflation on the one side or stagnation on the other, but both of them together. We have a sort of 'stagflation' situation." Macleod is often credited with coining the term, and his linguistic invention was quickly embraced by economists in the United States, who used it to refer to the period of economic sluggishness and high inflation that affected the country in the 1970s.
Examples of stagflation in a Sentence
Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025
The last period of stagflation in the U.S. was in the 1970s.
—Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Some might consider that the perfect recipe for stagflation.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The Federal Reserve warned of stagflation in its May meeting, owing to high tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump in April.
—Brian Evans,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stagflation
Cite this Entry
“Stagflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagflation. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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