inference

/ˈɪnfərəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnfərəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-f(ə-)rən(t)s -fərn(t)s/ (ame, mw)

inference — noun

  • inferencesingular
  • inferencesplural

1. a belief or judgment that you arrive at by putting together the information or c

1.名詞B2
釋義

a belief or judgment that you arrive at by putting together the information or clues you have, even though no one has stated it directly to you

例句

From the muddy footprints, Dario made the inference that someone entered through the back door.

make + inference + that-clause

The detective's inference about the suspect's motive turned out to be completely wrong.

同義詞
  • conclusion

    more general; any final judgment, not necessarily based on reasoning from evidence

  • deduction

    a specific type of inference that moves from general rules to a particular case, often with logical certainty

  • conjecture

    an opinion based on incomplete evidence, often with less confidence than inference

反義詞
  • fact

    something known to be true through direct observation rather than reasoning

文法句型

inference + that-clause

draw/make + an inference

reach/arrive at + an inference

用法筆記

Frequently paired with verbs like 'draw', 'make', or 'reach' and often followed by a that-clause stating the conclusion.

常見錯誤

❌The detective made an assumption that the butler did it.' (when the detective used evidence).
✅The detective made an inference that the butler did it.
💡an assumption is taken for granted without proof; an inference is based on evidence.
❌I inferred a conclusion.' (redundant).
✅I drew an inference from the data.
💡'infer' already implies reaching a conclusion, so 'infer a conclusion' is repetitive.

2. the mental activity of using known facts or observations to reach a new conclusi

2.名詞B2
釋義

the mental activity of using known facts or observations to reach a new conclusion or form an opinion about something

例句

In science class, Lara learned how to use inference to interpret experimental data.

use inference + to-infinitive

The novel requires careful inference because the narrator rarely explains things directly.

同義詞
  • reasoning

    broader term; includes any logical thinking, not just conclusion-drawing from evidence

  • deduction

    a specific form of inference from general premises to a specific conclusion

文法句型

by inference

based on inference

inference + preposition: from

用法筆記

Uncountable in this sense; describes the general reasoning activity rather than a specific conclusion. Common in academic, scientific, and analytical contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The inference of this experiment took several hours.' (using countable form for the process).
✅The process of inference in this experiment took several hours.
💡sense 2 is uncountable; refer to 'the process of inference' or 'inference-making' rather than 'an inference'.
❌I made an inference about the data.' (ambiguous — could mean the process or the result).
✅I used inference to analyze the data.
💡use 'inference' alone (uncountable) to refer clearly to the process.