Unflammable

(uhn-flam-uh-buhl)
adjective

• Impervious to flame, incapable of catching fire, or extremely resistant to flame. This term is proposed to replace "inflammable" and "non-flammable" to avoid confusion due to the dual origins of the prefix "in-" in English.

• Explanation: The prefix "in-" in English can have different meanings depending on its origin. It can mean "not" or "without", derived from Latin, as in "incalculable" (not calculable). However, "in-" can also mean "in" or "into", also derived from Latin but related to the Greek prefix "en-", as in "inflammable" (able to be set on fire). These dual meanings can cause confusion, as "inflammable" might be mistakenly thought to mean "not flammable". The term "unflammable" uses the prefix "un-", which consistently means "not" in English, making it a more intuitive, perspicuous, and less confusing alternative.

The new line of camping gear is made from unflammable material, providing an extra layer of safety during wilderness adventures.