deductive

[ dih-duhk-tiv ]

adjective

1. based on deduction from accepted premises, as in deductive argument deductive reasoning

deductive

/ dɪˈdʌktɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to deduction

   deductive reasoning

Confusables Note

Deductive and inductive refer to two distinct logical processes. Deductive reasoning is a logical process in which a conclusion drawn from a set of premises contains no more information than the premises taken collectively. All dogs are animals; this is a dog; therefore, this is an animal: The truth of the conclusion is dependent only on the method. All men are apes; this is a man; therefore, this is an ape: The conclusion is logically true, although the premise is absurd. Inductive reasoning is a logical process in which a conclusion is proposed that contains more information than the observations or experience on which it is based. Every crow ever seen was black; all crows are black: The truth of the conclusion is verifiable only in terms of future experience and certainty is attainable only if all possible instances have been examined. In the example, there is no certainty that a white crow will not be found tomorrow, although past experience would make such an occurrence seem unlikely.

Derived Forms

• deˈductively, adverb

Other Words From

• de·ductive·ly adverb
• nonde·ductive adjective
• nonde·ductive·ly adverb
• unde·ductive adjective
• unde·ductive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deductive¹

First recorded in 1640–50, deductive is from the Latin word dēductīvus derivative. See deduct, -ive

Example Sentences

Instead of receiving science through set experiments with known outcomes, students should learn to apply deductive and inductive reasoning to weigh information before blindly accepting results.

From Scientific American

The second sort of comment, he says, was: “Who the F are you? You have all these senior scientists and Nobel laureates and others who are saying it comes from nature? Who the F are you to say that, based on your analysis and your deductive reasoning, you have additional questions?”

From New York Times

A mathematician might point to a deductive argument, a scientist to experiments, and a lawyer to courtroom evidence and testimony.

From Scientific American

“It’s mastered the style of being linguistically human, but it doesn’t have explicit programming to do exactly the things that computers have so far been very good at, which is very recipelike, deductive logic.”

From Scientific American

The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was deductive.

From New York Times