inference
UK: ˈɪnf(ə)rəns | US: ˈɪnfərəns
n. a logical conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning
n. the process of deriving conclusions from premises
n. an implied meaning or suggestion
The word "inference" originates from Latin inferre ("to bring in, carry into"), composed of in- (into) and ferre (to carry). Over time, it evolved in Middle English to denote the act of drawing conclusions by "carrying" logical connections from premises to outcomes. The suffix -ence nominalizes the action, solidifying its modern meaning as a reasoned deduction.
The detective made a clever inference based on the fingerprints.
Her argument relied heavily on statistical inference.
The teacher asked students to explain their inferences from the text.
His silence was interpreted as an inference of guilt.
Scientific inference often involves testing hypotheses against data.