inference

[ in-fer-uhns, -fruhns ]

/ ˈɪn fər əns, -frəns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR inference ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of inferring.

something that is inferred: to make rash inferences.

Logic.

the process of deriving the strict logical consequences of assumed premises.
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.
a proposition reached by a process of inference.

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We know you’ll tackle this quiz totis viribus! See how many words from the week of Oct 12–18, 2020 you get right!

Question 1 of 7

What does “Indigenous” mean?

characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.

carried on abroad, or with other countries.

relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of inference

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

OTHER WORDS FROM inference

mis·in·fer·ence, nounpre·in·fer·ence, nounsu·per·in·fer·ence, noun

Words nearby inference

infective endocarditis, infecund, infelicitous, infelicity, infer, inference, inferencing, inferential, inferential statistics, inferior, inferior alveolar nerve

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for inference

Let’s say there is a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, approved without political inference by the FDA.
A third of Americans might refuse a Covid-19 vaccine. How screwed are we?|Brian Resnick|September 4, 2020|Vox
While it’s nearly impossible to uncover who exactly is doing the swearing since the audio is generally being muted, we can still make a few inferences.
Carmelo Anthony’s On-Court Cussing Has TV Networks Playing Defense|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 18, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Through finding the relationships and patterns between words in a giant dataset, the algorithm ultimately ends up learning from its own inferences, in what’s called unsupervised machine learning.
OpenAI’s New Text Generator Writes Even More Like a Human|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|June 18, 2020|Singularity Hub
Some philosophers have gone so far as to argue that creatures that lack a language are not capable of being rational, making inferences, grasping concepts, or even having beliefs or thoughts.
Animals That Can Do Math Understand More Language Than We Think|Erik Nelson|June 14, 2020|Singularity Hub

We’re talking about a small-scale research finding that was the truth in that finding, but because of the mechanics of statistical inference, it just won’t be right.
Policymaking Is Not a Science (Yet) (Ep. 405)|Stephen J. Dubner|February 13, 2020|Freakonomics
The inference that the child was treated as an equal in the community is unwarranted.
Living With Disability in the Dark Ages|Elizabeth Picciuto|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is an example of abductive reasoning: an inference is made based on known facts, in an effort to explain them.
Is Sherlock Holmes a Good Detective?|Noah Charney|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The reasoning task requires the mice to make an inference by exclusion.
Are You Smarter Than a Mouse? Excerpt from Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power|Dan Hurley|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sen. Claire McCaskill said the “innuendo and inference” reminded her of Joe McCarthy.
We’re All Joe McCarthy|Michael Moynihan|February 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The inference of “it” is that Burns himself wandered a painful distance down a suicidal path after being bullied in school.
Gay Teens' New Champion Opens Up|Claire Howorth|October 17, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Of the correctness of the inference from them, Lingard admits, 'we have no opportunity of judging.'
Sir Walter Ralegh|William Stebbing
North and east of Tambov the original Ugrian population is no longer a matter of inference.
The Ethnology of Europe|Robert Gordon Latham
Neither to the extent of the inference, nor therefore to the purpose designed, were any limits visible.
Not Paul, But Jesus|Jeremy Bentham
This is done by conveying the inference that the only pure acetylsalicylic acid on the market is that known as Aspirin-Bayer.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2|Various
Their morality is always an inference from these, never the forefront of their teaching.
The Religious Experience of the Roman People|W. Warde Fowler

British Dictionary definitions for inference

inference

/ (ˈɪnfərəns, -frəns) /

noun

the act or process of inferring

an inferred conclusion, deduction, etc

any process of reasoning from premises to a conclusion

logic the specific mode of reasoning usedSee also deduction (def. 4), induction (def. 4)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for inference

inference

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

Idioms and Phrases with inference

inference

see draw an inference.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

inference

noun

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of inference

OTHER WORDS FROM inference

Words nearby inference

Example sentences from the Web for inference

British Dictionary definitions for inference

noun

Cultural definitions for inference

Idioms and Phrases with inference

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

inference

noun

QUIZZES

BEAT THE DOLDRUMS WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of inference

OTHER WORDS FROM inference

Words nearby inference

Words related to inference

Example sentences from the Web for inference

British Dictionary definitions for inference

noun

Cultural definitions for inference

Idioms and Phrases with inference