在经济学上，恶性通货膨胀是一种不能控制的通货膨胀，在物价很快地上涨的情况下，就使货币失去价值。恶性通货膨胀没有一个普遍公认的标准界定。一般界定为每月通货膨胀50%或更多，但很多时在宽松上使用的比率会更低。多数的经济学家认为的定义为「一个没有任何平衡趋势的通货膨胀循环」。当越来越多的通膨现象随着周期反复发生会产生恶性循环。有关恶性通膨的肇因虽有很多争议，可是当货币供给有异常的增加或钱币大幅的贬值，且常与战争（或战后）、经济萧条、及政治或社会动荡联系在一起时，恶性通膨便日益明显。

Certain figures in this article use scientific notation for readability.

In economics, hyperinflation occurs when a country experiences very high and usually accelerating rates of inflation, rapidly eroding the real value of the local currency, and causing the population to minimize their holdings of the local money. The population normally switches to holding relatively stable foreign currencies. Under such conditions, the general price level within an economy increases rapidly as the official currency quickly loses real value. The value of economic items remains relatively more stable in terms of foreign currencies.