deflator
UK[dɪˈfleɪtə]US[dɪˈfleɪtər]
n
A statistical factor or index used to adjust economic data (such as GDP) to remove the effects of inflation, allowing comparison of values from different time periods.
n
A person or thing that deflates, especially one that reduces confidence or causes something to collapse.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
flat
or
de
down/away
flat
blow
or
agent/thing
Etymology
The word 'deflator' is built from classical components. The core Latin verb flare, meaning "to blow," provides the foundational concept of air movement. The prefix de-, meaning "down" or "away," reverses this action, creating the sense of letting air out or reducing pressure. The agent suffix -or was then appended to form a noun denoting an entity that performs this action of deflating. Over time, this literal meaning of causing something to collapse by releasing air was metaphorically extended into economics. A price deflator is thus conceptually an instrument that "lets the air out" of inflated monetary values, allowing for a clearer view of real economic changes.
Analysis
Structure: de (down/away) + flat (blow) + or (agent/thing)
de: A Latin prefix meaning "down from, away, off, completely." It often indicates reversal or removal.
flat: From the Latin root flat-, the past participle stem of flare, meaning "to blow." This root appears in English words related to air or breath.
or: A Latin-derived agent suffix forming nouns that denote a person or thing performing an action.
Examples
The GDP deflator is a broad measure of inflation within an economy.
He was a real deflator of morale, always pointing out the flaws in every plan.
Economists use the implicit price deflator to convert nominal GDP into real GDP.