Inference

How it is used

The verb is infer: we infer a conclusion from premises. Common phrases are draw an inference, a valid inference, rules of inference, and inference to the best explanation (choosing the hypothesis that best explains the evidence).

Example sentences

1. The inference from 'most people believe it' to 'it is true' is not valid.

2. Scientists and detectives often rely on inference to the best explanation.

Common collocations

• draw an inference
• valid inference
• rule of inference
• inference to the best explanation

Related terms

• deductionReasoning in which the conclusion is meant to follow necessarily from the premises, so that true premises guarantee a true conclusion.
• inductionReasoning from observed cases to a general conclusion or a prediction, where the premises make the conclusion likely but not certain.
• conclusionThe statement that an argument tries to establish, supported by the premises that lead up to it.
• modus ponensA valid rule of inference: from 'If P, then Q' and 'P', you may conclude 'Q'.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• inference · Software Engineering
• inference · Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

More terms: Logic and Argument

• argument
• premise
• logic
• valid
• sound
• claim
• objection
• counterexample
• necessary condition
• sufficient condition
• tautology
• syllogism