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
Nerdwallet, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025
One question that has come up in recent days has been whether the U.S. economy is headed toward stagflation, or slow growth and rising inflation.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
And even an economy stalked by the prospects of stagflation offers some opportunities to do both.
—J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025
Preparing for potential stagflation, where slow economic growth coincides with persistent inflation, will further require a careful balance between cost management and long-term growth strategies.
—Jessica Mendoza, Forbes, 20 Mar. 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 4 Apr. 2025.
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