deductive
Americanadjective
adjective
Commonly Confused
Deductive and inductive refer to two distinct logical processes. Deductive reasoning is a logical process in which a conclusion drawn from a set of premises contains no more information than the premises taken collectively. All dogs are animals; this is a dog; therefore, this is an animal: The truth of the conclusion is dependent only on the method. All men are apes; this is a man; therefore, this is an ape: The conclusion is logically true, although the premise is absurd. Inductive reasoning is a logical process in which a conclusion is proposed that contains more information than the observations or experience on which it is based. Every crow ever seen was black; all crows are black: The truth of the conclusion is verifiable only in terms of future experience and certainty is attainable only if all possible instances have been examined. In the example, there is no certainty that a white crow will not be found tomorrow, although past experience would make such an occurrence seem unlikely.
Other Word Forms
- deductively adverb
- nondeductive adjective
- nondeductively adverb
- undeductive adjective
- undeductively adverb
Etymology
Origin of deductive
First recorded in 1640–50, deductive is from the Latin word dēductīvus derivative. See deduct, -ive
Explanation
Deductive thinking is based on logic and the facts. A good detective can use deductive reasoning to find a killer. If you want to know how to be deductive, read a Sherlock Holmes book or watch the show "House" (about a clever doctor who is based on Holmes). Both Holmes and House are masters of looking at the facts — which are often confusing — and making deductive conclusions. Thinking deductively involves critical thinking and careful attention to detail, not guessing or making things up. That's why being deductive is one of the best ways to crack a case.
Vocabulary lists containing deductive
The AP English Exam: Rhetorical and Literary Terms 1
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Divergent
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Writing - High School
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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.
It’s classic deductive detective work meets Japanese comfort fare.
From Salon • Dec. 26, 2025
For her part, Patience tells Bea, “Your deductive leaps of logic can be haphazard and your notes are cursory,” but she admires her clearance rate, the best in the country.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2025
A mathematician might point to a deductive argument, a scientist to experiments, and a lawyer to courtroom evidence and testimony.
From Scientific American • Jul. 1, 2023
The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was deductive.
From New York Times • May 25, 2023
There is a delicious irony in this because Hobbes believed factual knowledge was a truly inferior kind of knowledge, science consisting solely of deductive knowledge.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
