Why inflammable means flammable

Which word is older? When did flammable come into common use? In a word? Don't Get Mixed Up Again! Get Dictionary. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Word of the day.

The truth is, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. So, why are there two different words? According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, back in the s, the National Fire Protection Association urged people to start using the word "flammable" rather than "inflammable" which was the original word because they were concerned some people might think inflammable meant not-flammable or nonflammable.

Actually, the in- in inflammable was derived from the Latin preposition en-, which serves as an intensifier as in enflamed and engulfed , not the Latin prefix meaning un-, meaning "not. However, confusion persists today regarding which word to use. While flammable is the preferred modern term for a material that catches fire readily, inflammable has the same meaning.

The opposite, a material that won't burn easily, is either not-flammable or non-flammable. Examples of flammable materials include wood, kerosene, and alcohol.

Examples of nonflammable materials include helium, glass, and steel. While it may surprise you, another example of a non-flammable substance is oxygen —which, as an oxidizer, is instead combustible. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Ethical conundrums. This sporting life. Stage and screen. Birds and the bees. And what is the opposite? James Kelly, Bristol, UK 'Inflammable' has always meant 'tends to catch fire easily'; but, because the prefix 'in-' often means 'not' as in 'ineffective' and for that reason 'inflammable' might be misinterpreted, 'flammable' has become the preferred alternative on warning labels.

I looked this one up after a long running argument with a friend in India, where they use the proper form "inflammable" on trucks transporting petrol or other dangerous stuff. I was baffled that they would go to so much trouble to alert the public to a benign cargo. However flammable is now in common useage - I guess to stop people like me getting confused and thinking it's safe to smoke or weld, etc near substances they shouldn't.

BY Oren Herschander. Big Questions. Subscribe to our Newsletter!