Flammable chemicals, gases, cloth, or other things catch fire and burn easily.
...flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin.
Synonyms: combustible, incendiary, inflammable, ignitable More Synonyms of flammable
flammable in British English
(ˈflæməbəl)
adjective
liable to catch fire; readily combustible; inflammable
▶ USAGE 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
flammability (ˌflammaˈbility)
noun
flammable in American English
(ˈflæməbəl)
adjective
easily set on fire; that will burn readily or quickly
see also inflammable
Derived forms
flammability (ˌflammaˈbility)
noun
Word origin
L flammare, to flame + -able
Examples of 'flammable' in a sentence
flammable
The trio need the footwear to protect their paws as they sniff out flammable liquids in Hull.
The Sun (2016)
Their uniforms were highly flammable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They found flammable gas surging from a hole in the wall.
The Sun (2010)
Why paint would be that much less flammable for being inside a bag is not completely obvious.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They found a drink can containing flammable liquid in a bin in the lavatory.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It pours flammable liquid from its exhaust.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This burns the waste to ash and releases highly flammable carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Health and safety officials feared the mob's cooking equipment and flammable liquids could spark a blaze.
The Sun (2011)
Home life was highly flammable.
Christianity Today (2000)
LNG is less of a safety risk than gas because the fuel is not flammable when it is chilled into liquid.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The fire quickly consumed the cramped neighbourhood and then spread to highly flammable warehouses on Thames Street.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anyway hydrogen is less flammable than petrol, and when it does ignite it doesn't hang around.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But as helium is also highly flammable, this is one experiment they'd better take extra care with!
The Sun (2006)
In other languages
flammable
British English: flammable /ˈflæməbl/ ADJECTIVE
Flammable chemicals, gases, cloth, or other things catch fire and burn easily.
...flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin.
American English: flammable
Arabic: قَابِلٌ لِلِاشْتِعَال
Brazilian Portuguese: inflamável
Chinese: 易燃的
Croatian: zapaljiv
Czech: hořlavý
Danish: brændbar
Dutch: ontvlambaar
European Spanish: inflamable
Finnish: syttyvä
French: inflammable
German: brennbar
Greek: εύφλεκτος
Italian: infiammabile
Japanese: 可燃性の
Korean: 인화성의
Norwegian: brennbar
Polish: łatwopalny
European Portuguese: inflamável
Romanian: inflamabil
Russian: огнеопасный
Latin American Spanish: inflamable
Swedish: brännbar
Thai: ซึ่งไวไฟ
Turkish: yanıcı
Ukrainian: займистий
Vietnamese: dễ cháy
Chinese translation of 'flammable'
flammable
(ˈflæməbl)
adj
[gas, fabric]易燃的 (yìrán de)
(adjective)
Definition
easily set on fire
flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin
Synonyms
combustible
Methane is a highly combustible gas.
incendiary
inflammable
A highly inflammable liquid escaped into the equipment.
ignitable
Usage note
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.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inflammable
Definition
easily aroused to anger or passion
A highly inflammable liquid escaped into the equipment.