verb

deduce

dih-JOOS

verb

To work out a conclusion through logical reasoning based on known facts or evidence.

"From the muddy footprints, the detective deduced that the intruder had come through the garden."

"Scientists deduced the planet's composition from its light spectrum."

How to Use Deduce

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo figure something out logically from clues or evidence already known.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "deduct," which means to subtract or take away, usually money.

Easily confused with

deduct → induce →

Common pairings

deduce from evidence able to deduce logically deduce

Word Forms

deduced past tense, deduce plural, deduced plural, deduces singular, deduce singular, deduced singular, deducest singular, deducedst singular, deduceth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

From the muddy footprints, the detective _____ that the intruder had come through the garden.

Etymology

From Latin dēdūcere ("to lead away, derive"), from dē- ("from, away") + dūcere ("to lead").

Rhymes for deduce

luce duce deuce sauce truce Bruce reduce spruce seduce induce produce lettuce

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