reduced
Americanadjective
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made smaller, lower, or less; diminished.
Individuals who experience depression have reduced levels of serotonin in their brains.
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Mathematics. noting a polynomial equation in which the second highest power is missing.
The cubic equation x3 − 4x + 4 = 0 is reduced.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reduced
Explanation
A reduced thing has been lessened or subtracted from. If you want to ride your bike in Italy and you’re on a budget, look for reduced airfare. For a reduced risk of injury, wear a helmet when you get there. To reduce something is to make it smaller or lessen it in some way. Therefore, anything reduced is smaller than it was before. If you’re pedaling your way through Italy and hit a giant hill, you’ll probably have reduced pedal power and go much slower. This word applies to things that are going down in degree or amount. There could be reduced pain, reduced cost, or reduced size. Anything described as reduced can also be called decreased.
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.
He said the agency's marine weather forecasts have grown less reliable, and he fears reduced research will undermine policies for managing fish stocks.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026
This lessens the risk of flooding, but reduced rainfall can leave groundwater and river levels low, fuelling drought and wildfires in spring and summer.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
Its original crew of 265 sailors had been reduced to 18 “skeletal phantoms.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Wojcieszak’s research showed that Meta’s stricter moderation before the 2020 election reduced misinformation exposure by 72%.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026
As the training progressed, the team of scientists gradually reduced their contact with Xiang Xiang so he could learn to interact with the wild environment on his own.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
