inductive

American  

[in-duhk-tiv] / ɪnˈdʌk tɪv /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving electrical induction or magnetic induction.

2. operating by induction.

   an inductive machine.

3. of, relating to, or employing logical induction.

   inductive reasoning.

4. Embryology. eliciting the action of an embryonic inducer.

5. serving to induce; leading or influencing (usually followed byto ).

6. introductory.

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inductive British  

/ ɪnˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

1. relating to, involving, or operated by electrical or magnetic induction

   an inductive reactance

2. logic maths of, relating to, or using induction

   inductive reasoning

3. serving to induce or cause

4. a rare word for introductory

5. biology producing a reaction within an organism, esp induction in embryonic tissue

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Usage

What does inductive mean? Inductive is most often used to describe a kind of reasoning or logic where general theories are formed from specific examples or incidents.Inductive is an adjective form of the verb induct, meaning to bring about or bring in.Simply put, inductive reasoning involves using specific observations, evidence, or patterns to make a broad conclusion. You first collect evidence or make observations and then form an answer or theory based on what you have found. Your answer can be likely, or probable, but you can’t know if it’s true without further observations. For example, after witnessing something happen at the same time every day for a year, you could use inductive reasoning to conclude that it is very likely that it will happen at the same time tomorrow.However, inductive reasoning can often lead to wrong or illogical conclusions, even if all of the evidence is true. For example, if all the red-haired people you’ve ever met are left-handed, you might incorrectly use inductive reasoning to conclude that all red-haired people are left-handed.Inductive reasoning is the opposite of deductive reasoning, which uses general, true information to reach specific conclusions: Dogs are mammals. Pluto is a dog. Pluto is a mammal. Inductive is also used to describe the scientific processes of electric and magnetic induction or things that function based on them.Inductive is also used as a synonym for the word introductory.Example: When police use fingerprints as evidence of a crime, they are using inductive reasoning to conclude who the likely criminal is.

Commonly Confused

See deductive.

Other Word Forms

• anti-inductive adjective
• anti-inductively adverb
• anti-inductiveness noun
• inductively adverb
• inductiveness noun
• preinductive adjective
• semi-inductive adjective
• uninductive adjective

Etymology

Origin of inductive

From the Late Latin word inductīvus, dating back to 1600–10. See induct, -ive

Example Sentences

The plan is to install inductive charging coils underground along Charles E. Young Drive between the Westwood Plaza intersection and Murphy Hall.

From Los Angeles Times

In order to achieve such levels of accuracy, current testing requires a device called an inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

From Science Daily

It underwent structural and compositional analysis using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Rietveld analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and selected-area electron diffraction.

From Science Daily

Using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the researchers found many particles that were of nanoscale size.

From Science Daily

This is the promise of wireless EV charging, an inductive transfer of electrons that would eliminate the need for all those pesky cords.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• exploratory
• preparatory
• prior