What is the difference between an item being flamable as opposed to it being inflamable?

Pagiedamon

Very little difference. However, if you want specifics, the dictionary defines them as: Flammable- Easily set on fire; combustible Inflammable- Capable of being set on fire; combustible www.dictionary.com Nov 22 08, 12:44 PM

Baloo55th

The original term used was 'inflammable' - capable of being inflamed, i.e set on fire. Some nanny types decided that the in- could be taken by people to be the same in- as in inoperative, etc, where it means not. They therefore created 'flammable' for use on labels. The two uses of in- in English can be a slight problem, but 'inflammable' was in use long before the nanny types were born, without there being many (if any) cases of people reading it as 'not burnable' and standing in the fire as a result. (The same people are responsible for cosmetics, etc, in the UK containing 'aqua' as an ingredient. This is so that foreigners (a few of whom use the term rather than water, Wasser, eau, agua and so on) would understand that the dangerous substance known as water to English speakers was contained therein. I sometimes wonder who foots the bill for these people.... Nov 22 08, 1:25 PM