flammable

[ flam-uh-buhl ]
See synonyms for flammable on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. easily set on fire; combustible; inflammable.

Origin of flammable

1
First recorded in 1805–15; from Latin flammā(re) “to set on fire” + -ble

confusables note For flammable

Other words from flammable

  • flam·ma·bil·i·ty [flam-uh-bil-i-tee], /ˌflæm əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, noun

Words Nearby flammable

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How to use flammable in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flammable

flammable

/ (ˈflæməbəl) /


adjective
  1. liable to catch fire; readily combustible; inflammable

usage For flammable

Flammable and inflammable are interchangeable when used of the properties of materials. Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding (inflammable being sometimes taken to mean not flammable). Inflammable is preferred in figurative contexts: this could prove to be an inflammable situation

Derived forms of flammable

  • flammability, noun

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