How to say "inflation" in Japanese

• インフレJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounEconomic inflation — a sustained rise in prices. This is the abbreviated form of the loanword, the one you hear in news reports and everyday talk about the economy.
  インフレを考慮こうりょした数値すうちです。↗

  It's an inflation-adjusted figure.
• インフレーションCommon
  nounThe full form of the loanword for economic inflation — a sustained rise in prices — with no difference in meaning from its abbreviation インフレ; use it when you want the word spelled out in full.
• 水増しみずましCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbNot economic inflation: this is figurative 'inflation' — padding, literally 'adding water' — when a budget or claim is artificially swollen to look bigger than it is.

For economic inflation — rising prices — use 「インフレ」, or its full form 「インフレーション」; 「水増し」 is only for figurative inflation, the padding of a budget or claim to make it look bigger.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• インフレinflation
• インフレーションinflation
• 膨満ぼうまんdistention
• 物価高ぶっかだかhigh prices of commodities
• 物価上昇率ぶっかじょうしょうりつprice escalation rate
• 膨化ぼうかswelling
• 水増しみずましinflation (of budget, claim, etc.)