'inflationary' originates from the word 'inflation', which comes from the Latin word 'inflatio', where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'flare' meant 'to blow'.

'inflatio' transformed into the French word 'inflation', and eventually became the modern English word 'inflationary' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the act of blowing into or inflating', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to economic inflation'.