why does inflammable mean flammable. In fact, they say that you have much better odds of being struck by lightning than being caught in a. why does inflammable mean flammable

 
 In fact, they say that you have much better odds of being struck by lightning than being caught in awhy does inflammable mean flammable  There may be a word that meets your criterion but the dictionary has this note about your example

Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. The true answer is yes and no. 106 gave these definitions for flammable and combustible liquids: A flammable liquid was defined as “Any liquid having a flash point below 100°F (37. In the early 20th century, firefighters worried that people might. According to OSHA, diesel has a flashpoint of over 199. In fact, your kidneys remove approximately 20 to 50 percent of IPA from your body. Flammable paints include alkyd, lacquer, and enamel paints that are solvent- or oil-based. This means it won’t burn easily, as it must react with oxygen (or another oxidizer) to catch fire. Helium is an inert gas which is non-reactive, allowing for some unique uses from balloons and blimps to other industries with dangerous. Helium is the most perfectly inert of all the elements. Then, you fill the lab with pure oxygen. . Note that we still say inflammatory speeches not *flammatory speeches, inflammation of the skin not *flammation of the skin, etc. Flammable/inflammable. Posted by Fauske & Associates on 05. The two categories of flammable solid are Category 1 and Category 2. While oil-based and solvent-based paints provide you with color and texture,. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. (of a person) quick to become angry or violent. Flammable liquids all have a certain flashpoint, which is the temperature at which enough vapor is produced to ignite when exposed to an ignition source. : capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly flammable noun Synonyms burnable combustible combustive fiery ignitable ignitible inflammable touchy See all Synonyms &. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. There are two categories of flammable aerosols. The ethanol in alcohol, otherwise known as ethyl alcohol, is in itself highly flammable. Many flammable and combustible liquids and solids are volatile in nature; that is, they evaporate quickly and are continually giving off vapours. Flammable and inflammable are two words that cause confusion. Ether is both very volatile and very flammable, so much so that most labs would prefer not to have it used anywhere where flames or sparks could. ] in·flam′ma·bil′i·ty n. What Does Flammable Liquid Mean? A flammable liquid is any liquid whose automatic ignition point or flash point is below 38 °C or 100 °F. : capable of being set on fire and of burning quickly : flammable. See examples of INFLAMMABLE used in a sentence. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. FLAMMABLE definition: Flammable chemicals , gases , cloth , or other things catch fire and burn easily . But some people are thrown off by the in-and think inflammable means "not combustible". english) People often ask why "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing. Stack Exchange Network. Intentionally igniting perfume is a really bad idea that can result in injury. Alcohol is flammable. 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. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. The reasons for the flammability of hydrogen are: Hydrogen doesn’t need any flashpoint to burn and ignite. 8°C)”. All Free. You get a headache, fever, chills, cough, and tightness in your chest and unlike flu, you also may find that you. The reason is that the in of. Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Any aerosol that contains ≥ 85% flammable components (by mass) with a heat of combustion ≥ 30 kJ/g, and (if applicable) an ignition distance ≥ 75 cm (for spray aerosols) or a flame height ≥ 20 cm and a flame duration ≥ 2 s; or a flame height ≥ 4 cm and a flame duration ≥ 7 s (for foam aerosols). In the word “flammable,” the root word is flame, regularly understood as affiliated with fire. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Posted by 2 years ago. So why the confusion? Well, the prefix “in-“. Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable. See examples of NONFLAMMABLE used in a sentence. 0. The term 'inflammable' [ɪnˈflæməbl] refers to something that is easily set on fire or likely to cause strong emotions or reactions. Why does inflammable mean flammable? If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. e. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. inflammable definition: 1. When it's said that hydrogen is flammable, it doesn't mean the elemental form of hydrogen. Solution Flammable and inflammable are two words that cause confusion. This article will explore the results of these scientific inquiries to determine whether the. Why the water is not inflammable as hydrogen and oxygen are highly inflammable? I think you mean flammable, not inflammable. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of. It boils at around 40°C (the same as diethyl ether) but is not remotely combustible or flammable. It is important to note that “inflammable” does not mean “not flammable” as one might assume due to the prefix “in-. flammable definition: 1. Inflammable vs. flammable / inflammable; savoury / unsavoury; sensible / insensible; valuable / invaluable; Word Origin early 19th cent. it's like labeling something poisonous non-venomous Inflammable. combustible — A combustible material or gas catches fire and burns easily. His eyes flamed with anger. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent taste and is the by-product of fermentation. Why do people say oxygen is flammable? Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. The word ‘ flammable ’ applies to any substance, material or object that burns easily. As a matter of fact, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same capable of burning. The reason two words are required is because they describe different ways in which the material combusts. Fiberglass is nonflammable and does not burn. When these two elements combine, they release a great deal of energy in the form of heat and light. . ” inflammable is the older by about 200 years. No it isn't. Flammable is the more recent and also the more common of the. Generally speaking, flammable liquids will ignite (catch on fire) and burn easily at normal working temperatures. Inflammable substances are the ones that are much harder to burn or catch fire. Of the two terms, the older word for something capable of burning is inflammable, but. Historically, the only word was inflammable, dating to at least the 16th. Yes, silk is flammable. However, despite the fact that carbon is usually not flammable (technically), it will burn, and, in some cases, it will burn very well, indeed. Also, "invaluable" doesn't mean quite the same thing as "valuable". The substances that do not catch fire are called non-flammable substances. Flammable gases mix readily with oxygen in the air outside our buttocks and can catch fire easily, even at low temperatures. This is the flammable range at which the gas will burn. There are two types of water-based paints, which are latex and acrylic paints. If you add further heat to it, then it will produce harmful fumes. Although the spelling "imflammable" doesn't seem to have ever been at all common relative to either inflammable or flammable, it does seem to have had Flammable and inflammable are two words with the same meaning. Of the two words, it was ‘inflammable’ that entered the English language first – early 17th century. . Technically, “nonflammable” means a. Ask away! why is inflammable and flammable the same word, I mean, come on with that. Flammable also comes from flammare. " This older version of "infamous" came from Latin "infamosus" which meant "not well known. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Something that is non-flammable cannot burn or is very difficult to burn. While the word may imply a non-flammable substance, it is a common misconception. A material will not be uniformly flammable, and, in fact, different compositions of the same material. . Last edited: Jul 8, 2018. USAGE Flammable and inflammable are interchangeable when used of the properties of materials. So there is no illogicality here. "Inflammable" came first, and it means "easily inflamed", and "flammable" came later because people were confused by "inflammable". The French world itself. We often think of in- as meaning “not,” like the prefixes un- or non -. 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. 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. How do we know when to use which? Fortunately, I have an easy way to remember the difference. Flammable comes from the Latin word flamma, to set on fire. it has a flash point at or below nominal threshold temperatures defined by a number of national and international standards organisations. Flammable substances are defined as substances that will ignite and continue to burn when brought into contact with an ignition source. No, rubber is not flammable. This is perhaps the most perilously misunderstood word in the English language. Children’s clothing that most commonly catch alight are pajamas and nighties. Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. You can tell both words pertain to flames, but it's difficult to know whether they mean the same thing or are opposites. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. It is usually illegal to conduct work that takes place in environments in which a flammable vapor exists in concentrations that. If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. inflammable adjective (VIOLENCE) likely to become violent or angry very quickly and in an uncontrolled way: an inflammable situation / region. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Entries linking to flammable -able common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; requiring; to be ______ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French -able and directly from Latin -abilis . fickle. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). Motor oil, on the other hand, requires a much higher temperature to combust. likely to become violent or angry…. Gasoline is made up of various hydrocarbons, which are compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms. Inflammable and inflammatory can be confused with one another, but they also offer their own source of confusion with the prefix in-. The main difference between flammable and combustible liquids is the flashpoint, which refers to the lowest temperature at which the vapors generated by a liquid turn into a flammable gas and can ignite. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. But it can also be used as. because of the types of particles that. Inflammare, then, also meant “to cause to be on fire. Summary. Flammable: A material is considered flammable if it can catch fire and burn when exposed to an ignition source at room temperature. Something that will NOT. So they started saying "flammable" which. Learn more. The Free Dictionary advises using only flammable to give warnings: Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. share. They are synonyms. ” Instead, it is synonymous with “flammable” and should be used with caution to avoid misunderstandings. SYNONYMS 2. But because the first syllable is easily. Under pressure, and in its liquid state, commonly referred to as LPG, propane is not flammable. There may be a word that meets your criterion but the dictionary has this note about your example. A balloon filled with helium will not explode. Bamboo has a higher flame temperature than wood, so it burns faster and hotter. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. Therefore, since the 1950s, efforts to put forward the use of "flammable" in place of "inflammable" were accepted by linguists, and it is now the accepted standard in American English and. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. To avoid confusion, it is recommended that use of the term inflammable be avoided, since the prefix in-here does not mean "not". The first element to consider is a matter of state. Both words mean “easy to ignite or set fire to. Flammable materials are materials that ignite when they come into contact with an open flame or high temperature in the air. Something that will NOT. Updated on April 14, 2019 The adjectives flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly. . Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. Flammable is the standard term in the 21st century. ”. Fire is a non-solid block that can spread to nearby flammable blocks and destroy them. The only difference is that flamable is an outdated spelling of flammable. Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding ( inflammable being sometimes. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. From: Building Materials in Civil Engineering, 2011. In general, Loctite Super Glue can resist heat, but if you increase the temperature, then the bond will get weak. Rubber is not highly flammable in that it has a high ignition temperature of 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (260 to 316 Celsius). 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. Flammable gasses can include methane, acetylene, ammonia, hydrogen, propane, and propylene. Yes they both mean combustible. Examples of flammable materials include wood, kerosene, and alcohol. Polymer, the main material of plastic, combines hydrogen and oxygen. 4 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). (of a price etc) variable or erratic. Inflammable is preferred in figurative contexts:. ” Because more people consider. One of the largest causes for loss in process industries for both equipment and life is fire. Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. The higher the number, the more flammable the material. Because combustion is reaction of electronegative oxidizer such as. 2. inflammable adjective (VIOLENCE) likely to become violent or angry very quickly and in an uncontrolled way: an inflammable situation / region. Copy. Never store perfume near an open flame or in any place where sparks are flying. Combustible, a. At the time I heard that flammable was a made-up word, and the real word was. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. Abundant, dense foliage. Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. Okay, let us get this clear once and for all, yes super glue is flammable. Flammable and inflammable do not mean the same thing. If a substance is flammable, it means it can burn at normal working temperatures. The flammable range is bounded by the Lower Flammable Limit (LFL)Upper. Flammability of clothing depends on a number of factors. "I wonder whether they originally meant easily set on fire and not able to be set on fire, but over time they were confused to mean the same thing. Helium is an inert gas. 1 (a): are ignitable when in a mixture of 13% or less by volume in air. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of. CryptoDefinitions and Differences: Flammable vs. Saw it crop up in a comment - I'm guessing it's to do with its Latin history, but would like further. encenderse,. Why do flammable and inflammable mean the same? Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Argon isn’t flammable. Inflammable, a. Flammable vs. Are you ready?There isn’t one. Dangerous compounds may occur from heat, including isocyanate vapor. The thick, dark smoke produced by burning rubber is bad enough in itself, exposing people in the vicinity to the serious effects of smoke inhalation. Flammable liquids have a lower flashpoint than combustible liquids. These hydrocarbons are highly volatile and have a low flash point,. The truth is, flammable and inflammable mean almost the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. When we look at a word like inflammable, we instinctively feel it must be the. 3°C). If you’re still a little confused, that’s okay. (ˈflæməbəl ) adjective. Both words mean the same thing, i. To appropriately tell if Diesel is Flammable or not, both fuel liquids are Fire Hazard, the Gasoline is the typical Flammable liquid. It does not act as fuel for the fire to burn, it does however act as the. ''. In Middle English the word "infamous" did in fact mean "not well known. Flammable materials have a flashpoint below 100°F (37. The truth is, flammable and inflammable mean almost the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. While people mix these meanings in everyday language (see below), I find it odd in a text concerned about precision of language. The in- has nothing to with the prefix meaning "not", but it's confused often enough that the letters are dropped in hazard symbols. ”. That is because the prefix in inflammable is in1-, meaning "in; into; '' it is not the prefix in2-, meaning "not. It might seem like I am just splitting hairs, but that’s not really true. Flammable placard. If the draft label has no claim of non-flammability, skip this section. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Fireproof These three terms Non-combustible mean the textile Non-flammable will not burn. Why?. Most candles are made from paraffin wax and when that wax is vaporized, it is very combustible. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Learn more. Fire-extinguishing media should be carbon dioxide, dry powder, or foam. However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible. The rate of evaporation varies greatly from […]Metals are flammable. 2. If these products are not stored safely, they can easily ignite and start a fire. #2. 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 —. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. So, a fire (which is burning something in oxygen) can’t burn water because water is the end product of a hydrogen. A substance is considered highly flammable if its ignition point is lower than 90 degrees F. 3kPa. Inflammable is a French word which means “to set fire to”. However, it is important to use the correct spelling to avoid. Actually, the in- in inflammable was derived from the. Yes, gasoline can catch fire. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examplesEntries linking to flammable -able common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; requiring; to be ______ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French -able and directly from Latin -abilis . that something can be set on fire. This is perhaps the most perilously misunderstood word in the English language. Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer. There is no difference in meaning between flammable and inflammable. Something that will NOT burn is nonflammable. A material is thus ‘inflammable’ if it is prone to catching fire! Fire! (Photo: RonaldPlett/Pixabay) ‘Inflammable’ is even the older word here. Some of the non-flammable nail polishes on the market include SOPHi Nail Polish, piggy paint nail polish for kids, and suncoat nail polish. Many volatile liquids are not combustible. The word "inflammable" may be erroneously thought to mean "non-flammable". 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. The terms flammable and inflammable refer to substances that can quickly ignite and start fires. Think about this as “setting on fire,” of “putting flame into or onto (something). Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used solvent by chemists. Inflammable means the same thing! There isn’t actually any significant difference between the two words. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. 4 F (93 C). We can see this in words like: This version of “in-” comes from the. IPA poisoning occurs when the liver is no longer able to manage the amount of IPA in the body. So do burnable, ignitable. In air oxygen is mixed with. 8°C), while a substance is considered combustible if its flash point is between 100°F and 200°F (37. The word ‘ flammable ’ applies to any substance, material or object that burns easily. The most combustible solids are powdered, granular or pasty chemicals. Inflammable means the same thing. . It is used to signify that something is cool, awesome, exciting, or more colloquially, “on fire. Inflammable. 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. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Latin had two prefixes "in-", one of whichFebruary 8, 2023. Many flammable substances have to be at a high concentration in order to actually. But magnesium oxide, the byproduct of burning magnesium, can be toxic if inhaled. In addition, perfumes are flammable because they contain alcohol, which can easily catch fire. So why isn’t inflammable the opposite of flammable?. Some liquids are volatile but NOT flammable. Whenvapors of a flammable liquid are mixed with air in the proper proportions in the presence of a source of ignition, rapid combustion or an explosion can occur. 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). Some liquids are volatile but NOT flammable. Something that is flammable burns easily: 2. Suppose you build a lab that is perfectly isolated from the outside world, meaning that no impurities or gases. Flammable, inflammable, and combustible materials, though related, are not identical. 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’. Flammable placard. Why doesn't it mean "to set on fire"? Podcast. Usage note. 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. When you’re dealing with flammable liquids with a very low flash point, there can be a greater risk of fire, explosion and. Why Inflammable Is Not the Opposite of Flammable. You should see oxygen rather as the substance that supports the combustion process rather than being a catalyst for it. Flammable liquids have a flash point below 100° F and vapor pressure that does not exceed an absolute pressure of 40 pounds per square inch (psi) at 100°; Flammable solids can cause fire from friction or retained heat from manufacture, has an. INFLAMMABLE definition: An inflammable material or chemical catches fire and burns easily . 4 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius) (the benchmark that makes a substance flammable or not). What does this fire symbol represent? The fire emoji is a flame that is mostly yellow with a little red on the top. The use of inflammable as an English word can be traced as far back as 1605. It can also convey that someone is sexy, (i. Therefore, inflammable should mean"not flammable. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Going back to the matter of flammability, yes alcohol is flammable. The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. Broken down like this, without the suffix on the end, “flame,” and “inflame,” have the same meaning. 23. Another danger of using isopropyl alcohol is poisoning. Famously, these two seemingly opposite words are actually synonyms. Likewise, many metals have burning capacities. There are specific criteria set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) about flammable or combustible. Saturday 27 June 2009 22:26. (of a substance, informal) explosive. Thus, the presence of hydrogen and oxygen makes plastic explosive and flammable. An inflammable substance or material burns very easily: 2. This means they can easily be set on fire. So "infamous" in this case is best understood as meaning "having a bad reputation. What to Know. Burn injuries can lead to permanent scarring, disability and even death. able…. This generally makes sense and sounds like good advice, but as I was. These two substances are flammable and may catch fire easily. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. Therefore, water is unable to catch fire because it’s. Something that will NOT. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of. There is no difference in meaning between flammable and inflammable. inflammable. Learn more. For instance, oxygen is a non-flammable substance. CryptoInflammable looks like an opposite of flammable but in fact it has the same meaning. Can someone explain why those two words both mean ‘easily set on fire’? One clearly has the prefix ‘in-‘, which obviously means ‘not’ in other words, such as in-active, in-efficient, etc. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning "not," as it often does, "inflammable" comes from the latin. The NFPA and OSHA differ in how they classify flammable liquids. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of. Flammable was created to clear up the grammatical inconsistency, but inflammable didn't go away entirely. Learn more. Something that is flammable burns easily: 3. Only when the fuel is released and converted to a propane gas will it become combustible. dangerous — If something is dangerous, it is able or likely to hurt or harm you. In general, the relative hazard of a flammable liquid increase as the flashpoint decreases. Because it is made from fully oxidized silicon, the only way to get the glass to burn would be to raise the temperatures so high that the silicon-oxygen bonds broke down. ‘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. 3 - Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C. . liable to catch fire; readily combustible; inflammable. It’s an oxidizing agent, which means that it helps other things burn. 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. Inflammable ( and flammable) means something can easily be ignited- like gasoline. 6. The opposite of both words is non-flammable. Highly flammable: A material is considered highly flammable if it has a low flashpoint and can. Adding on that in the sense of the verb "inflammare," "in-" doesn't mean "not" like it does frequently in other contexts, but instead is just an intensifier. Solvent- and oil-based paints give texture and color, but they are flammable paints. So, why are. 1892. No. 3M subscribers in the NoStupidQuestions community. Why are things flammable? Flammable substances are those gases, liquids and solids that will ignite and continue to burn in air if exposed to a source of ignition. See synonyms for inflammable on Thesaurus. In fact, helium (in its liquid state) is actually used as a coolant for things like rocket ships, MRI machines, and particle accelerators. Flammable and inflammable are both adjectives that mean “easily set on fire. Something that will NOT. flammable: [adjective] capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly. According to NFPA, a flammable liquid is a liquid with a closed-cup flash point less than 100°F (38°C), whereas a combustible liquid is a liquid with a closed-cup flash point greater than or equal to 100°F (38°C). e. It produces large amounts of heat when burning in oxygen releasing 286 Kilojoules for every mol of hydrogen that is burned. Inert quite literally means non-combustible. Flammable and inflammable are two words that sound like they would have opposite meanings, but they actually mean the same thing. Meanwhile, epoxy resin is nonflammable and is even resistant to fire, to some extent. 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). Flammable and inflammable substances are also called combustible materials.