flammable
FLAM-uh-bul
/ˈflæməbəl/
Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly.
Applies to liquids or gases that ignite easily at low ambient temperatures.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'flammare' (to catch fire). The word 'flammable' was deliberately promoted by safety engineers in the 20th century because people mistook 'inflammable' to mean non-burning due to the prefix 'in-'.
Word relationships
- combustible: Combustible materials can burn, but flammable materials ignite much more easily and quickly at lower temperatures.
- ignitable: Ignitable is technical jargon for catch-on-fire capability.
- non-flammable: Will not catch fire easily under standard conditions.
- fireproof: Resistant to destruction by fire.
Commonly confused with
- inflammable: Inflammable means the exact same thing as flammable; the prefix 'in-' comes from Latin 'en-' (into flame), not 'not'.
Word family
- flammability (noun): The quality of being easily ignited.
- inflame (verb): To catch fire or excite passion.
Collocations
- highly flammable
- flammable gas
- flammable liquid
- flammable material
Example sentences
- "All flammable solvents must be stored in spark-proof, grounded safety cabinets." Industrial hazard warning
- "Carrying flammable liquids on public passenger trains is strictly prohibited by law." Public transportation safety
Memory hook
FLAMmable catches FLAMes instantly. Catches fire quickly.
When not to use
Do not use 'inflammable' thinking it means 'not flammable'—inflammable means the exact same thing.
Fun facts
- The English language switched from 'inflammable' to 'flammable' on warning labels after people kept mistaking 'in-' for 'not' and causing accidental explosions.
Explore more words
combustible, volatile, hazardous, ignite, incendiary, go down in flames
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