inference

[in-fer-uhns, -fruhns]

noun

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.

inference

/ 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

inference

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

Other Word Forms

• misinference noun
• preinference noun
• superinference noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inference¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see draw an inference.

Example Sentences

It is still up in the air whether Meta would use the chips, known as tensor processing units or TPUs, to train its AI models or to do inference, one of the people said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“These allegations permit the reasonable inference that Indyke and Kahn knew what was going on and had a hand in keeping it going,” the judge ruled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

AI reasoning models—including DeepSeek — consume vastly more computing capacity for inference, the process of generating answers from already developed AI models.

Read more on Barron's

It's not clear how companies will enforce the ban but some possibilities included the use of government IDs, face or voice recognition and age inference.

Read more on BBC

Several possibilities have been raised, including the use of government IDs, face or voice recognition and age inference.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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