inference

American  

[in-fer-uhns, -fruhns] / ˈɪn fər əns, -frəns /

noun

inferences plural

1. the act or process of inferring.

2. something that is inferred.

   to make rash inferences.

3. Logic.

   1. the process of deriving the strict logical consequences of assumed premises.

   2. 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.

   3. a proposition reached by a process of inference.

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inference British  

/ 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. logic the specific mode of reasoning used See also deduction induction

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inference Cultural  

1. In logic, the deriving of one idea from another. Inference can proceed through either induction or deduction.

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inference Idioms  

1. see draw an inference.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misinference
  noun
• preinference
  noun
• superinference
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inferences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of inference

From the Medieval Latin word inferentia, dating back to 1585–95. See infer, -ence

Explanation

An inference is an idea or conclusion that's drawn from evidence and reasoning. An inference is an educated guess. We learn about some things by experiencing them first-hand, but we gain other knowledge by inference — the process of inferring things based on what is already known. When you make an inference, you're reading between the lines or just looking carefully at the facts and coming to conclusions. You can also make faulty inferences. If you hear a person's weight is 250 pounds, you might make the inference that they're overweight. But what if they're seven feet tall?

Example Sentences

"It is earned through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between fact, inference, and speculation."

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

To make the approach practical, the researchers turned to a modern technique called simulation-based inference.

From Science Daily • Jun. 29, 2026

First, it has a high speed inference chip, the HBC platform.

From Barron's • Jun. 28, 2026

The delayed release of AI models could impact demand for inference, or the process of running AI models, which would have “significant negative ramifications across tech,” he told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 26, 2026

They showed me how to be precise in notation, acute in investigation, and rational in inference.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• assumption
• conjecture
• interpretation
• presumption
• reasoning
• supposition