inference

B2 Topic:Philosophy & Reasoning

US /ˈɪn.fɚ.əns/ UK /ˈɪn.fə.ɹəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #40700

Meanings

1

noun
A conclusion you reach based on evidence or reasoning rather than direct information.

From the muddy footprints, the detective drew an obvious inference.
2

noun
The act or process of reaching such a conclusion.

Solving the puzzle requires careful inference.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a conclusion you reach... conclusion deduction

2 noun · the act or process of... illation

Word family

Forms inferences

Derived forms inferencinginferentialmacroinferencemicroinferencemisinference

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

rational inference
a conclusion reached through logical reasoning from available information

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Latin inferentia. Morphologically infer + -ence.

inferentia Latin

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Topics

Philosophy & Reasoning Abstract Ideas

External links

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