What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. [. In the case of “inflammable,” however, the root word is “inflame,” which also is affiliated with fire and setting something alight. Capable of being enkindled into flame. Lots of dead leaves underneath the plant (litter) Needle-like or very fine leaves. A material is thus ‘inflammable’ if it is prone to catching fire! Fire! (Photo: RonaldPlett/Pixabay) ‘Inflammable’ is even the older word here. Is helium flammable? The answer is simply, no. Though it may not meet the OSHA standard for flammability, honey can still be a fire hazard in. Okay, let us get this clear once and for all, yes super glue is flammable. Yes, diesel is flammable and can catch fire. Flammable Substances Flammable substances are those gases, liquids and solids that will ignite and continue to burn in air if exposed to a source of ignition. One of the largest causes for loss in process industries for both equipment and life is fire. explanation, please!What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. , 25- 35 °C. Very important. Very important. 1. Perfume is highly flammable but safe when used properly. In the early 20th century, firefighters worried that people might. The NFPA and OSHA differ in how they classify flammable liquids. What does Unflammable mean?: not flammable : incapable of combustion —not used technically. e. Combustible Liquid Definition. liable to catch fire; readily combustible; inflammable. FLAMMABLE definition: Flammable chemicals , gases , cloth , or other things catch fire and burn easily . Flammable was created to clear up the grammatical inconsistency, but inflammable didn't go away entirely. flammable definition: 1. In 2015, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling of chemicals. Dangerous chemical conditions may occur if it combusts. So, why are. It is even used to put out fires and to make anti-flame materials. Its root flammāre, which also means “to set on fire. What does this fire symbol represent? The fire emoji is a flame that is mostly yellow with a little red on the top. 31. Why doesn't it mean "to set on fire"? Podcast. ''. This is perhaps the most perilously misunderstood word in the English language. why does flammable and inflammable have the same meaning? 5 comments. In reality, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing—capable of burning. The polishes also don’t contain alcohol, formaldehyde, or toluene. 2. A material will not be uniformly flammable, and, in fact, different compositions of the same material. "She is easily inflamed" does not equal "She is easily flamed" The more I know. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning "not," as it often does, "inflammable" comes from the latin. " The prefix -in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix -in, which is related to the English -un and. Best Answer. flammable: [adjective] capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly. The proper proportion is called the. The reason two words are required is because they describe different ways in which the material combusts. Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing? How can someone "draw a blank"? Shouldn't there be a shorter word for "monosyllabic"? Why is the word "abbreviate" so long? Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets? What is another word for "thesaurus"? Visit the previous joke about this topic!Why do flammable & inflammable mean the same thing?. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. “Why does inflammable mean flammable? Shouldn’t it be the opposite? This is why English sucks, and why I don’t have my favorite towel anymore. FLAMMABLE (EXPLOSIVE) LIMITS. But the prefix “in-” can also mean “on” or “into. But apparently there were sometimes people who would think "in" meant "not," as it usually does at the beginning of words, and think the word meant "not able to flame. Flammable and inflammable do not mean the same thing. It’s in your body right now, in fact. concentration over one‐fourth of the lower flammable limit. Inflammable comes from the Latin inflammāre, “to inflame. It is the English translation of the Latin word inflammare, which is the combination of two Latin words: in, which in this case has the same meaning as our English "in," and flamma, which means "flames," hence, "in flames. Likewise, many metals have burning capacities. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. The word "inflammable" came from Latin inflammāre = "to set fire to," where the prefix "in-" means "in" as in "indoctrinate", rather than "not" as in "invisible" and "ineligible". Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. ”. This means they can easily be set on fire. Combustible, a. "Water doesn’t burn because it’s already been through the process of combustion. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. ” The prefix –in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix –in, which is related to the English –un and. It does not act as fuel for the fire to burn, it does however act as the oxidizing part of the fire triangle. Many volatile liquids are not combustible. Magnesium itself is non-toxic. hazardous — full of risk; perilous; risky: a hazardous journey. This is all because of the flashpoint of diesel that matches OSHA’s definition of a flammable liquid. Inflammable and inflammatory can be confused with one another, but they also offer their own source of confusion with the prefix in-. 2. These flames are often controlled, but the danger arises when the bottle is too close to the stove. Flammable placard. If you add further heat to it, then it will produce harmful fumes. inflammable adjective (VIOLENCE) likely to become violent or angry very quickly and in an uncontrolled way: an inflammable situation / region. Latin has the noun flamma, which means (and is the source of the word) “flame. Flammable and inflammable cause a lot of confusion. The explosive flammable range of a combustible gas or vapor is the range between the lower exposure limit (LEL) and the upper exposure limit (UEL) for that particular gas or vapor. Note: The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has a very different definition of a flammable liquid and even more different classification. " After all, you might have heard the word "inflame" and understand it to meant to set something on fire or to make a fire bigger. Of the two words, it was ‘inflammable’ that entered the English language first – early 17th century. The prefix ‘in’ in this Latin word did not mean ‘not’, but ‘to cause to’. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines a flammable liquid as any liquid having a flash point at or below 199. When we look at a word like inflammable, we instinctively feel it must be the. an example sentence would be: "Be careful with that gasoline, it's flammable/inflammable. Posted by Fauske & Associates on 05. Yes, it is flammable, if we are talking about polyester resin and uncured epoxy resin. The word "flammable" is newer than inflammable and does not exist, for instance, in Indian English. The adjectives flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly. It is often used alongside combustible which also describes the ability to ignite—but one difference is that flammable materials ignite more easily and vigorously. This means that, in practice, it will catch fire as soon as it is exposed to a naked flame or a spark without needing to be heated prior to this. There are many materials that are highly flammable, as long as certain conditions are met. Flammable materials are those combustible materials, which can burn in the air easily by providing an ignition source. Flammable and combustible materials achieve explosive tendencies depending on two factors: the concentration of vapors or particles suspended in air as well as the presence of an ignition source, whether that be heat or a spark. Nonflammable definition: . com article you will learn the differences between the words Flammable and Inflammable. When you’re dealing with flammable liquids with a very low flash point, there can be a greater risk of fire, explosion and. Flammable also comes from flammare. The higher the number, the more flammable the material. to burn with flames. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean "able to burn" even though they look like opposites. capable of burning The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. Why? The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. When it's said that hydrogen is flammable, it doesn't mean the elemental form of hydrogen. Capable of being enkindled into flame. Both flamable and flammable mean the same thing – capable of catching fire and burning easily. But, on the other hand, Diesel fuel is graded as a combustible liquid. Flammable is the standard term in the 21st century. New. (of a person) quick to become angry or violent. It can also convey that someone is sexy, (i. That may be set on fire; easily enkindled; susceptible of. in·flam·ma·ble. The truth is, flammable and inflammable mean almost the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. A material will not be uniformly flammable, and, in fact, different compositions of the same material. It is usually illegal to conduct work that takes place in environments in which a flammable vapor exists in concentrations that. Flammable = able to be set on fire. The in- has nothing to with the prefix meaning "not", but it's confused often enough that the letters are dropped in hazard symbols. A liquid with a flashpoint between 100 F is combustible. Polymer, the main material of plastic, combines hydrogen and oxygen. A substance is considered highly flammable if its ignition point is lower than 90 degrees F. flammable now has certain technical uses, particularly as a warning on vehicles carrying combustible materials, because of a belief that some might interpret the intensive prefix in-of inflammable as a. This means it won’t burn easily, as it must react with oxygen (or another oxidizer) to catch fire. Because combustion is reaction of electronegative oxidizer such as. 3 - Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C. Non-flammable means incapable of being ignited, not easily burned. Jul 8, 2018. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. why is inflammable and flammable the same word, I mean, come on with that. Flammable and inflammable are both adjectives that mean “easily set on fire. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of. HIGHLY FLAMMABLE definition: Flammable chemicals, gases, cloth, or other things catch fire and burn easily . The opposite of both words is non-flammable. Cryptononflammable: 1 adj impossible to ignite Synonyms: incombustible , noncombustible not capable of igniting and burningOil-based paints are flammable only when wet, whereas latex, acrylic and water-based paints are not flammable while wet, but become combustible when dry. Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used solvent by chemists. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. Flammable gasses can include methane, acetylene, ammonia, hydrogen, propane, and propylene. Thus, the presence of hydrogen and oxygen makes plastic explosive and flammable. Do the 2 words: 'Inflammable' & 'Flammable' mean the same thing? But the 2 words: 'Inexpensive' & 'Expensive' have opposite meanings? What is the…Diesel is flammable, according to the OHSA. An inflammable substance or material burns very easily: 2. But also, "in-" sometimes means "not" so people got worried that if you put "This product is inflammable" on stuff, people would think it's fireproof and then accidentally light it on fire. I also wouldn't question someones usage of "inflammable" to mean "not flammable" in the right context. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. ' 'Inflammable' has synonyms like 'combustible' and 'ignitable,' and. Flammable gasses can include methane, acetylene, ammonia, hydrogen, propane, and propylene. Due to its extreme volatility. However, OP's isopropyl wipes are soaked with about 70% isopropanol and DI water (the best combination for better sanitation). What do you mean by flammable gas? A flammable gas is a gas that burns in the presence of an oxidant when provided with a source of ignition. This article will explore the results of these scientific inquiries to determine whether the. ” inflammable is the older by about 200 years. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Updated on April 14, 2019 The adjectives flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly. Inflammable. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. This is the criteria OSHA uses for determining the flammability of liquids. 4 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius) (the benchmark that makes a substance flammable or not). . ” inflammable is the older by about 200 years. Recently, comparison with other words where in- means "not" (like inedible and inaccurate ) has lead to inflammable being used to mean "not flammable". Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. Saturday 27 June 2009 22:26. Combustible. ” Using nonflammable is one way to ensure clarity. As a matter of fact, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same capable of burning. Learn more. So the "in" in "inflammable" is not the same as the prefix "in-" that means "not". Famously, these two seemingly opposite words are actually synonyms. 1. inflammable adjective (VIOLENCE) likely to become violent or angry very quickly and in an uncontrolled way: an inflammable situation / region. Inflammable comes from the Latin word inflammare, while flammable comes from the Latin word flamma. to become very hot, red etc. In such cases, the rubber may melt or release toxic fumes. This is because it has a flashpoint (the temperature at which it catches flame) of around 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, or 260 to 316 degrees Celsius – which is a heat point normally quite hard to achieve. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Inflammable. Something that is flammable burns easily: 3. Another danger of using isopropyl alcohol is poisoning. More Like This Words that look like opposites, but aren’t Words that look like opposites, but aren’tThe flammability range provides a tool for mitigating the dangers posed by flammable vapors and the various substances that emit them, including many chemicals (such as gasoline) commonly used in occupational settings. Only when the fuel is released and converted to a propane gas will it become combustible. It is easy to think of liquids that are both flammable and volatile: ethyl ether, pentane, gasoline, etc. This generally makes sense and sounds like good advice, but as I was. It’s an oxidizing agent, which means that it helps other things burn. IPA poisoning occurs when the liver is no longer able to manage the amount of IPA in the body. So, why are there two different words? Some people mistake the words as having opposite meanings. Significance of Flammability Testing. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. In spite of appearances to the contrary, it is not the opposite of “flammable”; on the contrary, it is synonymous with “flammable,” which is a relatively recent made-up word, as you will see shortly. CryptoDefinitions and Differences: Flammable vs. We can see this in words like: This version of “in-” comes from the. And it is thus logical to assume that if “flammable” means “catches fire easily,” “inflammable” would mean the opposite. Adjective. While oil-based and solvent-based paints provide you with color and texture,. Combustible liquids have the ability to burn at temperatures that are usually above working temperatures. Flammable means that something is capable of being ignited, easily burned. Let’s find out. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. INFLAMMABLE definition: An inflammable material or chemical catches fire and burns easily . Flammable and inflammable are two words that sound like they would have opposite meanings, but they actually mean the same thing. Ignition Temperature. Eg:Petrol is highly flammable . ”. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means "not flammable" or "noncombustible. . Flammable liquid classes are designated by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and there are six classes total based on a liquid’s closed-cup flash point and boiling point: Class IA, Class IB, Class IC, Class II, Class IIIA, and Class IIIB. : from Latin flammare, from flamma ‘a flame’. Share. ”. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. USAGE inflammable and flammable both mean “combustible. On the other hand, inflammable materials are those that catch. "Inflammable" came first, and it means "easily inflamed", and "flammable" came later because people were confused by "inflammable". The boiling point of a combustible liquid is always over 100 degrees Fahrenheit while a flammable liquid has a boiling point under 100 degrees. The ‘in’ prefix in inflammable is derived from the Latin prefix ‘en’ meaning to cause a person or thing to be in (as in enslave, encourage). This is because soot is carbon dust and dust has a very large surface area when compared to its volume, this means that it takes less heat to set it on. This means that, in practice, it will catch fire as soon as it is exposed to a naked flame or a spark without needing to be heated prior to this. The meaning of INFLAMMABLE is flammable. flammable: 1 adj easily ignited Synonyms: inflammable combustible capable of igniting and burningThe graphic above shows that flammable liquids have a flashpoint below 100 F (37. ‘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. Your body can handle small amounts of isopropyl alcohol. . Inflammable was the original word. Flammable liquids: 1 - Flash point < 23°C and initial boiling point ≤ 35°C. This means that it will not ignite a fire under normal ambient pressure and temperature. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. Potentially, this misunderstanding could be disastrous. flammable in British English. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. According to OSHA, diesel has a flashpoint of over 199. e. To explain the subtle difference between these substances: Flammable liquids will ignite and burn easily at normal working temperature, whereas combustible liquids are less volatile substances. In fact, most English words that begin with “in-” follow this pattern. Inflammable is derived from the word inflame (sometimes spelled enflame), and precedes the invention of the word flammable. english) People often ask why "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing. Different fabric types, like cotton and linen, also have a high burning rate, which can be lightened by applying nonflammable chemical additives. The flammability will depend on the ratio of oxygen and hydrogen present in the plastic. Due to its extreme. No, rubber is not flammable. For this reason,. Our word inflammable, it turns out, is derived from the Latin word inflammare, from which we also get the word inflame, which means to set on fire —. fickle. Flammable materials are particularly vulnerable. Crypto92 "flammable" (Word origins - alt. Latin had two prefixes "in-", one of whichFebruary 8, 2023. For instance, oxygen is a non-flammable substance. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. com '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,. Think about this as “setting on fire,” of “putting flame into or onto (something). Although it seems logical that inflammable might mean “not flammable,” the word actually means the opposite, because the in- prefix of inflammable comes from the Latin word meaning “in” or “into. The antonym or word that means the opposite of flammable and inflammable is nonflammable. 8°C), while a substance is considered combustible if its flash point is between 100°F and 200°F (37. Abundant, dense foliage. An example sentence would be: "This fabric is. Inflammable definition: Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable. Inflammable originally meant "can get inflamed" which means it can become on fire. usage. This was actually a literary amendment per se. Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing: they both refer to a material that can easily catch fire and burn. While the have the same meanings, flammable is the better word choice because it eliminates the possibility of confusion in the reader’s mind. flammable range. Another use of this prefix is to mean ‘cause to be in’ a certain state, similar to the prefix en- in words like ‘enslaved’ or ‘enraged’. , hot), or refer to other various metaphorical fires. Flammable substances are defined as substances that will ignite and continue to burn when brought into contact with an ignition source. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean ” able to burn ” even though they look like opposites. No, oxygen is not inherently flammable. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean ” able to burn ” even though they look like opposites. Workshop may have sparks or flames that would ignite that material, causing a fire. ” Inflammable is the older by about 200 years. Foliage with low moisture. If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. (of a substance, informal) explosive. In Middle English the word "infamous" did in fact mean "not well known. While almost every material on earth will burn if it gets hot enough, many objects, like most types of metal, can't be made hot enough by everyday means of ignition. While people mix these meanings in everyday language (see below), I find it odd in a text concerned about precision of language. That would make sense—if inflammable had started out as an English word. Paints are formulated from several different ingredients and some paints require solvents to assist these ingredients to dissolve. incendiary — used or adapted for setting. While the word may imply a non-flammable substance, it is a common misconception. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. because of the types of particles that. It does not act as fuel for the fire to burn, it does however act as the oxidizing part of the fire triangle. 3°C)”. Why does inflammable mean flammable? If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. both flammable and inflammable mean the same thing, isn't that crazy? messire lavoisel Saturday, October 25, 2003, 15:03 GMT "Inflammable" is the original word picked up from French and has always meant "liable to catch fire". Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. The dyes and other additives to provide color may increase the flammability of this kind of fabric. Fiberglass is nonflammable and does not burn. and is also often referred to as theInflammable definition: . Why it’s risky : It’s not uncommon for marsala, sherry and other alcohol-based sauces to flare up. These include 2:Hydrogen gas is highly reacted with flames for several reasons. On top of that, why the hell would you make the opposite of ‘flammable’ be ‘nonflammable’?Inflammable means to inflame, but no one says to inflame anymore. The only difference is that flamable is an outdated spelling of flammable. The other components don’t make the polish flammable because of their low percentages. Also, some pyrophoric metallic elements like plutonium can ignite consistently in the air. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE WHY DOES "INFLAMMABLE" MEAN "FLAMMABLE"? When we’re describing something that burns easily, we say it’s flammable, but "inflammable. Helium is the most perfectly inert of all the elements. Typically, alcohol that is 80 proof or higher (ABV of 40% or above) is flammable. It produces “metal fume fever” which has symptoms very similar to the flu. (in)flammable means that it is easy to start the combustion. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of. 8°C) and can ignite easily, even at low temperatures. There are two categories of flammable aerosols. Rubber is not highly flammable in that it has a high ignition temperature of 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (260 to 316 Celsius). In addition to being more likely than other types of plants to catch fire, bamboo also. Something that will NOT. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Follow answered Apr 3, 2011 at 13:. Hydrogen is highly flammable and burns at very low temperatures in the presence of a naked flame or spark. Soul fire is a dimmer turquoise variation of fire that is created when soul sand or soul soil is ignited. The meaning of flammable is able to be easy ignited; inflammable is the antonym of flammable. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). In terms of flammability, it may be the worst with a high burning rate. Why Inflammable Is Not the Opposite of Flammable. ‘Flammable,’ the new kid on the block, didn’t appear in print until more than three hundred years later. Nonetheless, "inflammable" is often erroneously thought to mean "non-flammable". Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. ” “Flammable” was coined later from a translation of the latin verb flammare. able…. Although it seems logical that inflammable might mean “not flammable,” the word actually means the opposite, because the in- prefix of inflammable comes from the Latin word meaning “in” or “into. 4 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). In terms of occupational health and safety, flammable liquids and gases are often of greatest concern, because they tend to be the most volatile and storing them in a fire-safe way is more. However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible. Trick question: both flammable and inflammable are correct, as they both mean “capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. The word "inflammable" may be erroneously thought to mean "non-flammable". Flammable and inflammable do not mean the same thing. This can lead to some confusion, with some individuals thinking that it means the opposite of flammable; that is, that it cannot be set on fire. Improve this answer. Why Is It Important to Conduct Flammability Testing? It’s very important to determine the flammability of a substance to burn to ensure the safety of employees on a work site or in a factory. Where a flammable object can be set fire to, requiring a source of ignition, an inflammable substance can catch fire all by itself and includes unstable chemicals like some types of compressed gas and explosive hazards. Something that will NOT. This would also include substances that could ignite on their own when exposed to either water or air, as well as. We get inflammable from the Latin verb inflammare, which combines flammare ("to catch fire") with a Latin prefix in-, which means "to cause to. Though your candle wax won’t catch fire in normal usage of a candle, that doesn’t mean that it won’t melt. There is no difference in meaning between flammable and inflammable. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean “able to burn” even though they look like opposites. Alcohol is flammable. Note that combustible is not the same as (in)flammable: combustible means that a substance can burn or be burned. First, the structural formula and molecular bonding of the hydrogen are such that they are incredibly light reactors and combustible to fire. Flammable Liquid Definition. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. Why doesn't it mean "to set on fire"? Podcast. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Inflammable is a. See full list on dictionary. Out of all the gases in our farts, hydrogen, oxygen and methane are the flammable ones. His eyes flamed with anger. ”. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean ” able to burn ” even though they look like opposites. USAGE inflammable and flammable both mean “combustible. So you can say that rubber is not flammable. Fire is a non-solid block that can spread to nearby flammable blocks and destroy them. Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. ” This makes no sense to the Modern English speaker. Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. What does the. A flammable material is something that can catch fire (ignite) readily at an ambient temperature. Flammable and inflammable are two words that cause confusion. 3. Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. If a material won’t burn easily, you could say it is not flammable or non-flammable. It might seem like I am just splitting hairs, but that’s not really true. in·flam′ma·ble n. ” Instead, it is synonymous with “flammable” and should be used with caution to avoid misunderstandings. You can tell both words pertain to flames, but it's difficult to know whether they mean the same thing. #2. This definition highlights just how similar combustible and flammable liquids are. non-flammable meaning: 1. Intentionally igniting perfume is a really bad idea that can result in injury. Suppose you build a lab that is perfectly isolated from the outside world, meaning that no impurities or gases can enter it. 8°C and 93. temporary or ephemeral. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. " Water doesn’t burn because it’s already been through the process of combustion. Flammable and inflammable cause a lot of confusion. 1. Flammable substances are defined as the substances which can easily catch fire or it can be set to fire. Stack Exchange Network. All Free. Inflammable is traditionally used to mean "capable of burning" (compare inflame meaning "set on fire"); the term flammable is a more recent back-formation.