deduction

From Middle French déduction, from Latin deductio. Equivalent to deduct +‎ -ion or deduce +‎ -tion.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈdʌkʃən/, /dɪˈdʊkʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /dɪˈdʌkʃən/, /diˈdʌkʃən/

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• Rhymes: -ʌkʃən

deduction (countable and uncountable, plural deductions)

1. That which is deducted; that which is subtracted or removed
   1. A sum that can be removed from tax calculations; something that is written off

      You might want to donate the old junk and just take the deduction.

   2. (law, finance) A sum withheld from an employee's pay for the purpose of paying tax.
2. (logic) A process of reasoning that moves from the general to the specific, in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises presented, so that the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true.

   Antonym: induction

   1. A conclusion; that which is deduced, concluded or figured out

      He arrived at the deduction that the butler didn't do it.

      • 1961 January, “Talking of Trains: Marples out of step”, in Trains Illustrated, page 1:

        An unkinder deduction, considering only the Select Committee's report and discounting rumours of wayward conclusions by the Stedeford Group, would be that if one inquisition doesn't produce the desired answers, the Minister's policy is "try, try again"—or should one say "fight, fight, fight again".

   2. The ability or skill to deduce or figure out; the power of reason

      Through his powers of deduction, he realized that the plan would never work.

• (that which is subtracted or removed): extract, reduction; see also Thesaurus:decrement