Technically, I think they’re different. Flammable means that it can be lit on fire, like wood or something. Whereas inflammable means it can catch fire on its own, like gas, for example.
saying that “gas” is able to catch fire on its own is stretching it :) A gas mix typically still needs a spark, unlike: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant <- that stuff can “catch fire” on its own. But even there - it needs to be mixed, so technically, one component requires the other to ignite.
Phoenicianpirate@lemm.ee 4 days ago
That is something I found weird, too. Inflammable and flammable mean the same thing!
nyctre@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Technically, I think they’re different. Flammable means that it can be lit on fire, like wood or something. Whereas inflammable means it can catch fire on its own, like gas, for example.
chuckleslord@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Image
Synonyms, true synonyms. No real difference between them (except don’t use inflammable in safety situations, for above reasons)
glups@lemm.ee 3 days ago
Credit to you for the self-correction though
raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 4 days ago
saying that “gas” is able to catch fire on its own is stretching it :) A gas mix typically still needs a spark, unlike: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic_propellant <- that stuff can “catch fire” on its own. But even there - it needs to be mixed, so technically, one component requires the other to ignite.
nyctre@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Yeah, my bad, shit example.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 4 days ago
It makes more sense if you think of it as enflammable. Indent and indebted at examples of this “in-” prefix. merriam-webster.com/…/flammable-or-inflammable
militaryintelligence@lemmy.world 3 days ago
United States education system
Wanderer@lemm.ee 3 days ago
Flammable isn’t a word.
Just Americans got confused by it so it became a word.
Hexarei@programming.dev 3 days ago
So then it is a word
Wanderer@lemm.ee 2 days ago
A word made for stupid people, yes.