Deduction
dɪˈdʌkʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsThe action of taking away or subtracting something; a reduction.
dɪˈdʌkʃən
The action of deducting or subtracting something.
The company made a deduction from his paycheck for insurance.
💡 Simply: It's like when you take something away. For example, if you pay taxes, a *deduction* is the amount taken from your income to calculate how much you owe.
👶 For kids: Taking away something from a total, like when you get a toy and then take one away.
More Examples
The deduction from the final bill was a welcome surprise.
Tax deductions can significantly lower your tax liability.
How It's Used
"The tax deduction reduced his taxable income."
"The accountant calculated the deductions from the gross salary."
The process of reasoning from general principles to a specific conclusion.
dɪˈdʌkʃən
A conclusion reached by reasoning.
The detective used deduction to find the murderer.
💡 Simply: It’s like being a detective! You start with some clues and think step by step to figure out what happened. It is when you use information to come to a conclusion or answer a question.
👶 For kids: Figuring something out by thinking carefully, like when you guess who ate the cookies by looking at the crumbs.
More Examples
His theory was based on a logical deduction.
She came to her conclusion through careful deduction from the evidence.
How It's Used
"Through deduction, the detective solved the mystery."
"The scientist used deduction to formulate a hypothesis."
Idioms & expressions
by deduction
Through a process of logical reasoning.
"The conclusion was reached by deduction from the available facts."
From Latin *deductio* ('a leading away, removal'), derived from *deducere* ('to lead away, bring down, derive').
The word 'deduction' has been used in English since the late 15th century, initially to mean a subtraction or decrease. Its use to describe a reasoned conclusion followed later.
Memory tip
Think of *de* meaning 'away' and *duction* meaning 'leading'. Deducting leads something away.