inference

inference — noun

1. a belief or judgment that you arrive at by putting together the information or c

1.nounB2
Definition

a belief or judgment that you arrive at by putting together the information or clues you have, even though no one has stated it directly to you

Example

From the muddy footprints, Dario made the inference that someone entered through the back door.

make + inference + that-clause

The detective's inference about the suspect's motive turned out to be completely wrong.

Common collocations
  • draw an inference
  • make an inference
  • reach an inference
  • reasonable inference
  • logical inference
  • inference from the evidence
Synonyms
  • conclusion

    more general; any final judgment, not necessarily based on reasoning from evidence

  • deduction

    a specific type of inference that moves from general rules to a particular case, often with logical certainty

  • conjecture

    an opinion based on incomplete evidence, often with less confidence than inference

Antonyms
  • fact

    something known to be true through direct observation rather than reasoning

Grammar Patterns

inference + that-clause

draw/make + an inference

reach/arrive at + an inference

Usage Note

Frequently paired with verbs like 'draw', 'make', or 'reach' and often followed by a that-clause stating the conclusion.

Common Mistakes

The detective made an assumption that the butler did it.' (when the detective used evidence).
The detective made an inference that the butler did it.
an assumption is taken for granted without proof; an inference is based on evidence.
I inferred a conclusion.' (redundant).
I drew an inference from the data.
'infer' already implies reaching a conclusion, so 'infer a conclusion' is repetitive.

2. the mental activity of using known facts or observations to reach a new conclusi

2.nounB2
Definition

the mental activity of using known facts or observations to reach a new conclusion or form an opinion about something

Example

In science class, Lara learned how to use inference to interpret experimental data.

use inference + to-infinitive

The novel requires careful inference because the narrator rarely explains things directly.

Common collocations
  • by inference
  • deductive inference
  • inductive inference
  • logical inference
  • process of inference
  • based on inference
Synonyms
  • reasoning

    broader term; includes any logical thinking, not just conclusion-drawing from evidence

  • deduction

    a specific form of inference from general premises to a specific conclusion

Grammar Patterns

by inference

based on inference

inference + preposition: from

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense; describes the general reasoning activity rather than a specific conclusion. Common in academic, scientific, and analytical contexts.

Common Mistakes

The inference of this experiment took several hours.' (using countable form for the process).
The process of inference in this experiment took several hours.
sense 2 is uncountable; refer to 'the process of inference' or 'inference-making' rather than 'an inference'.
I made an inference about the data.' (ambiguous — could mean the process or the result).
I used inference to analyze the data.
use 'inference' alone (uncountable) to refer clearly to the process.

Word family

  • infer
    verbB2
  • inferential
    adjectiveC1
  • inferentially
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

An inference is a conclusion reached by reasoning from evidence, whereas conclusion is the broadest term — any final judgment, whether reasoned or not. Deduction is a narrower type of inference that moves from general rules to a specific case, often with logical certainty. Assumption means taking something for granted without proof, so it contrasts with inference, which is evidence-based. Conjecture suggests forming an opinion on incomplete evidence, usually with lower confidence than inference. For example: 'From the empty fridge, Anjali made the inference that her roommate had gone shopping' (evidence-based reasoning), is different from 'She assumed her roommate had gone shopping' (taken for granted without checking).

conclusion ↗deduction ↗assumption ↗conjecture

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • draw an inference
  • by inference
  • make an inference
  • reach an inference

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinEnglish

Inference comes from Latin 'inferre', which means 'to bring in' or 'to deduce'. This word is made up of 'in-' (into) and 'ferre' (to carry). It passed through Medieval Latin as 'inferentia' and entered English around the 1500s, originally used in logic and philosophy before expanding to everyday use.