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 3 weeks ago
That is something I found weird, too. Inflammable and flammable mean the same thing!
nyctre@lemmy.world 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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 weeks ago
Credit to you for the self-correction though
raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
Yeah, my bad, shit example.
JackbyDev@programming.dev 3 weeks 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 weeks ago
United States education system
Wanderer@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Flammable isn’t a word.
Just Americans got confused by it so it became a word.
Hexarei@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
So then it is a word
Wanderer@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
A word made for stupid people, yes.