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