English · Word Candidate

inflammatory

/ɪnˈflæmət(ə)ɹi/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: inflammatories

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Tending to inflame or provoke somebody.

Adjective

Examples

Sam posted an inflammatory comment to the newsgroup.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Relating to, causing, or caused by inflammation.

Adjective

Examples

As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels. The reason plaque forms isn’t entirely known, but it seems to be related to high levels of cholesterol induci

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Any material that causes inflammation

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “inflammatory” mean?

Tending to inflame or provoke somebody.

Is “inflammatory” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.