Definition

1. Verb:
   • To reach a conclusion through logical reasoning: To infer or derive a specific conclusion from general principles or known facts.
   • To establish a fact or truth through deduction: To use a process of logical reasoning to determine something that must be true based on other information that is known to be true.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • From the evidence, the detective was able to deduce the identity of the thief.
  • If all mammals are warm-blooded and a whale is a mammal, we can deduce that a whale is warm-blooded.
  • She deduced from his nervous behavior that he was hiding something.

Advanced Usage

• "to deduce that...": A common structure used to introduce the logical conclusion.
  • The scientists deduced that the chemical reaction required a catalyst.
• "to deduce something from something": To draw a conclusion based on specific information or evidence.
  • It is possible to deduce a great deal about ancient climates from ice core samples.

Variants and Related Words

• Deduction (n): The process of reaching a conclusion through logical reasoning; something that is deduced.
  • His conclusion was based on logical deduction.
• Deductive (adj): Using or based on the method of deduction.
  • Deductive reasoning moves from general principles to specific conclusions.

Synonyms

• Infer: To conclude from evidence or reasoning.
• Conclude: To arrive at a judgment or opinion by reasoning.
• Derive: To obtain or receive from a source, often through logical reasoning.

Related Phrases

• Deduce a pattern: To identify a recurring sequence or arrangement through analysis.
  • By studying the data, they were able to deduce a pattern in consumer behavior.
• Deduce the cause: To logically determine the origin or reason for something.
  • Engineers worked to deduce the cause of the structural failure.

Verb

1. conclude by reasoning; in logic
2. reason by deduction; establish by deduction