deduct
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See subtract.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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deductsimple
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deductssimple
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have deductedperfect
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has deductedperfect
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am deductingprogressive
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are deductingprogressive
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is deductingprogressive
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have been deductingperfect progressive
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has been deductingperfect progressive
Past
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deductedsimple
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had deductedperfect
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was deductingprogressive
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were deductingprogressive
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had been deductingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deduct
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin dēductus “brought down, withdrawn,” past participle of dēdūcere; see deduce
Explanation
To deduct is to remove or take away some amount. If your boss deducts money from your paycheck because you're always late to work, she subtracts it. When taxes are withheld from your salary, your employer deducts them to pay your contribution. Each time you use a debit card, it deducts the amount you spend from your bank account. A different way to deduct is to come to a reasoned, thoughtful conclusion, or to deduce. The two words were once interchangeable, while now it's more common to use deduct to mean "remove a portion," and deduce to mean "infer logically."
Vocabulary lists containing deduct
Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: duc, duct
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
However, some higher earners covered by a retirement plan at work won’t be able to deduct their traditional IRA contributions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
They pay $235 each in monthly Medicare premiums and deduct some of the $200 they spend on internet service and Margo’s phone as business expenses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
This matters because the King only voluntarily pays tax on income spent personally, meaning the King can effectively deduct royal business from his tax bill.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
This allows the trust to deduct the distributed amount on Form 1041, while the beneficiaries report it on their personal income-tax Form 1040.
From MarketWatch ● May 23, 2026
“We won’t blame you. We’ll just deduct it from our rent checks this month!”
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
That’s after SpaceX deducts underwriting discounts, commissions and other expected payments.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026
Instead, it deducts it little by little over the projected useful life of the stuff being bought.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
Social Security then deducts Irmaa from monthly benefit payments for recipients.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
The company says it doesn’t charge interest on the cash it extends to people between paychecks but deducts what it calls “voluntary tips” upon repayment, the records show.
From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2025
It deducts for garrison and normal outpost duty details amounting to over 17,000 men; and reckons the marching out strength for the battle of 31st August—1st September at "about 120,000 men."
From The Franco-German War of 1870-71 by Helmuth, Count
Now that she is at the MTA, she says she notices less money being deducted from her paychecks for insurance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Points deducted for some stiff dramatic reenactments; I would prefer a picture of an empty desk than one of a miscast George Washington sitting at it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
There was controversy when West Bromwich Albion were deducted two points for PSR losses on 24 April - eight days before the end of the Championship season.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
However, Saints were expelled from the play-offs after admitting observing opponents' training sessions, and they have been deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
Ironically, he ended up making money from the project—after the printing, shipping, and advertising costs were deducted.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
On a good day, he takes home between 900 and 1,000 rupees, after deducting money spent on fuel and food.
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026
Other methods include deducting transportation fees, and excluding certain research and development costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 31, 2025
Treasuries now yield less than JGBs after deducting the cost of hedging exchange-rate fluctuations.
From Barron's ● Nov. 22, 2025
He is deducting fees from mom’s estate funds.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2025
From this account it appears that, after deducting the space occupied by the bed, seven individuals huddle together all of a heap in an area 6 feet by 5 feet.
From Notes on Old Edinburgh by Bird, Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
