Plain meaning
Start with the shortest useful explanation before going deeper.
The annualized rate at which new SOL tokens are minted by the protocol to fund staking rewards. Solana launched with an initial inflation rate of 8% per year, which decreases by 15% of the current rate each epoch year (the 'disinflation rate'), gradually approaching the terminal inflation rate of 1.5%. As of 2025, the effective inflation rate is approximately 5.0%. The actual rate of SOL supply dilution depends on the percentage of total SOL that is actively staked.