deduct

American  

[dih-duhkt] / dɪˈdʌkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to take away, as from a sum or amount.

   Once you deduct your expenses, there is nothing left.

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verb (used without object)

1. detract; abate (usually followed byfrom ).

   The rocky soil deducts from the value of his property.

deduct British  

/ dɪˈdʌkt /

verb

1. (tr) to take away or subtract (a number, quantity, part, etc)

   income tax is deducted from one's wages

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Related Words

See subtract.

Other Word Forms

• prededuct verb (used with object)
• undeducted adjective

Etymology

Origin of deduct

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin dēductus “brought down, withdrawn,” past participle of dēdūcere; deduce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."

Example Sentences

“More people will be able to deduct their charitable gifts in 2026 because we now have a tax deduction for non-itemizers,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

You can’t deduct the contributions when you make them: You contribute with after-tax dollars, like with a Roth.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

That means a taxpayer in the highest bracket who gives $10,000 to charity beyond the 0.5% floor could deduct only $3,500, rather than $3,700.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

New York is one of three dozen or so states that have created a loophole that lets owners and partners in pass-through businesses fully deduct their state and local taxes on their federal tax returns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 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

Related Words

• reduce
• subtract
• withdraw
• write off