inference

UK: /ˈɪnf^ərəns/

US: /ˈɪnfərəns, ˈɪnfrəns/

US: (in′fər əns, -frəns)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•fer•ence /ˈɪnfərəns, ˈɪnfrəns/   n. 

1. [countable] an act or instance of inferring:
   Don't make such rash inferences from such small evidence.
2. the process of drawing a conclusion from reasoning:
   [uncountable] Deductive inference can sometimes lead to the wrong conclusion.
in•fer•en•tial /ˌɪnfəˈrɛnʃəl/  adj. See -fer-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•fer•ence  (in′fər əns, -frəns), n. 

1. the act or process of inferring.
2. something that is inferred:
   to make rash inferences.
3. Philosophy [Logic.]
   • the process of deriving the strict logical consequences of assumed premises.
   • the process of arriving at some conclusion that, though it is not logically derivable from the assumed premises, possesses some degree of probability relative to the premises.
   • a proposition reached by a process of inference.

• Medieval Latin inferentia. See infer, -ence
• 1585–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inference / ˈɪnfərəns -frəns/ noun

1. the act or process of inferring
2. an inferred conclusion, deduction, etc
3. any process of reasoning from premises to a conclusion
4. the specific mode of reasoning used
   See also induction4