# deflate

> English word · Verb · IPA /diːˈfleɪt/ · frequency rank #46,415

## Definitions
1. To remove air or some other gas from within an elastic container, e.g. a balloon or tyre.
2. To cause an object to decrease or become smaller in some parameter, e.g. to shrink
3. To reduce the amount of available currency or credit and thus lower prices.
4. To become deflated.
5. To let (someone) down, disappoint them, or put them in their place.
6. To compress (data) according to a particular algorithm.
7. To belch or flatulate

## Etymology
From de- + (in)flate. Coined in 1891, in reference to balloons. Equivalent to Latin dē- (“away, from”) + Latin flō (“blow”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **delete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deflate-vs-delete)
- **deviate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deflate-vs-deviate)
- **deplete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deflate-vs-deplete)
- **desolate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deflate-vs-desolate)
- **deflated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deflate-vs-deflated)
- **debate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-deflate)
- **defeat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-deflate)
- **declare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/declare-vs-deflate)
- **defeated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeated-vs-deflate)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ddeflate`, `defalte`, `defflate`, `deflaet`, `deflatte`, `defllate`, `defltae`, `delfate`, `dfelate`, `edflate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/deflate