reflate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, primarily used in economic, financial, and political contexts.
Quick answer
What does “reflate” mean?
To deliberately stimulate an economy by increasing the money supply or government spending, often after a period of deflation or contraction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deliberately stimulate an economy by increasing the money supply or government spending, often after a period of deflation or contraction.
To cause something (like an economy or market) to expand again after a period of reduction or decline; to reintroduce inflation into a system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and usage are identical. More frequent in UK financial journalism due to historical economic cycles.
Connotations
Neutral-to-positive as a technical policy term; can be negative if critiquing the policy as artificial.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard in specialist economic writing in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “reflate” in a Sentence
[Gov't/central bank] reflates [the economy/market]The policy is designed to reflateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reflate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Chancellor's budget sought to reflate the stagnant economy through infrastructure projects.
- Monetary policy alone cannot reflate demand if business confidence is low.
American English
- The Fed's interventions were designed to reflate the housing market.
- Critics argued the stimulus package would reflate prices without creating jobs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board discussed measures to reflate the company's shrinking market share.
Academic
Post-2008, central banks used quantitative easing to reflate global asset prices.
Everyday
(Rare in everyday use) The government's trying to reflate things after the recession.
Technical
The central bank aims to reflate the money supply to meet its inflation target.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reflate”
- Using 'inflate' instead of 'reflate' (inflate is the initial act, reflate is doing it again).
- Using it for physical objects ('reflate the tyre' is incorrect; use 'reinflate').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Inflate' means to expand something with air/gas or, economically, to cause general price increases. 'Reflate' specifically means to restore inflation or economic expansion *after* a period of deflation or contraction.
No, it's a mid-to-high frequency word within economics, finance, and political journalism, but low frequency in everyday general English.
Metaphorically, yes (e.g., 'reflate his sagging spirits'), but this is rare. The primary and standard use is macroeconomic.
In economic policy, the direct opposite is 'deflate' (to reduce economic activity or the money supply).
To deliberately stimulate an economy by increasing the money supply or government spending, often after a period of deflation or contraction.
Reflate is usually formal, primarily used in economic, financial, and political contexts. in register.
Reflate: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈfleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈfleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to put air back in the balloon (conceptual)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-FLATE: Think of RE-starting inFLATION. It's the policy opposite of 'deflate'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ECONOMY IS A BALLOON (that needs more air pumped back into it).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'reflate' most accurately used?