Inflatables

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Items designed to be filled with air or gas and used for various purposes, such as recreational play, decoration, or advertising
2. Objects that can be inflated to serve as toys, amusement park attractions, or promotional displays
3. Products that achieve form and function through inflation, commonly seen at events, parties, or as safety devices

Etymology: "Inflatables" is simply the plural of "inflatable," so it is worth explaining the word it pluralises. "Inflatable" is built from "inflate" plus the suffix "-able," meaning capable of being or fit to be something. Something inflatable is therefore capable of being inflated, filled with air or gas to swell into shape. The root "inflate" comes from Latin "inflare," meaning to blow into or blow up, combining "in-" (into) with "flare" (to blow). The suffix traces back through Latin "-abilis" and Old French "-able" into Middle English, where it became a productive way to form adjectives. English speakers have attached it to countless verbs over the centuries, which is why "inflatable" sits so naturally alongside words like "washable" and "breakable."

Synonyms: blow-ups, air-filled objects, inflated items