Shrinkflation

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /ʃrɪŋkˈfleɪʃən/

Definitions of shrinkflation

noun a portmanteau of 'shrink' and 'inflation', referring to the practice of reducing the size or quantity of a product while maintaining its price

Example Sentences

A1 Shrinkflation is when the size of a product gets smaller but the price stays the same.

A2 Consumers may not always notice shrinkflation because the changes are subtle.

B1 Shrinkflation can be a sneaky way for companies to increase their profits without raising prices.

B2 Economists study the effects of shrinkflation on consumer behavior and inflation rates.

C1 The phenomenon of shrinkflation has become more common in recent years as companies look for ways to cut costs.

C2 Some consumers have started to boycott products that have been affected by shrinkflation in order to send a message to companies.

Examples of shrinkflation in a Sentence

formal Shrinkflation is a phenomenon where companies reduce the size or quantity of a product while keeping its price the same.

informal Have you noticed any shrinkflation at the grocery store lately? It seems like the bags of chips keep getting smaller.

slang I hate when companies pull that shrinkflation trick on us - it's like they think we won't notice!

figurative The concept of shrinkflation can also be applied to situations where things seem to be diminishing in value or quality over time.

Grammatical Forms of shrinkflation

past tense

shrinkflated

plural

shrinkflations

comparative

more shrinkflated

superlative

most shrinkflated

present tense

shrinkflates

future tense

will shrinkflate

perfect tense

has shrinkflated

continuous tense

is shrinkflating

singular

shrinkflation

positive degree

shrinkflational

infinitive

to shrinkflate

gerund

shrinkflating

participle

shrinkflated

Origin and Evolution of shrinkflation

First Known Use: 2008 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'shrinkflation' is a portmanteau of 'shrink' and 'inflation' and refers to the practice of reducing the size or quantity of a product while keeping its price the same.
Evolution of the word: The term 'shrinkflation' gained popularity during the global financial crisis of 2008 when companies started reducing the size of their products as a way to offset rising production costs without raising prices. It has since become a commonly used term to describe this phenomenon in consumer goods markets.