inference
gb/ˈɪnfɚəns/ us/ˈɪnfɚəns/
C1
Inglés
~ 8200
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Sustantivo
formal
C1
entity
1
a conclusion based on evidence
An idea or conclusion you decide is true because of facts and clues, not because someone directly said it.
Patrón de uso:
to draw/make [an inference] from [facts/evidence]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "inference" with "influence" or "reference" because they look similar. "Inference" is about a conclusion you reach from clues. They also sometimes use "inference" when they mean simple "opinion"; an inference should be clearly based on some evidence.
Sinónimos
conclusion (Broader and more common; can be based on many things, while an inference is specifically based on evidence and reasoning.)
|
deduction (Suggests a more logical, step‑by‑step type of inference, often slightly more formal or technical.)
Antónimos
observation (An observation is something directly seen or noticed, not a conclusion reached indirectly from evidence.)
Colocaciones
draw an inference
|make an inference
|inference from the evidence
|reasonable inference
|incorrect inference
|implicit inference
Temas
thinking
|communication
|science
|core_vocabulary
|education
Ejemplos
- From the empty driveway and dark windows, her inference was that nobody was home.
- The article leaves readers to make their own inferences about who was responsible.
- His inference that the company was in trouble turned out to be completely wrong.
- That seems like a reasonable inference from the data we have.
- The lawyer challenged the jury’s inferences about the defendant’s actions.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- From his wet clothes, she made the inference that it was raining outside.
- We do not say it directly, but the inference is clear.
- Your inference is wrong; he did not lie to you.
- The teacher asks students to make inferences from the story.
- It is only an inference, not a fact.
Sustantivo
formal
C1
action
2
the act or process of inferring
The thinking process you use to reach a conclusion from facts and clues.
Patrón de uso:
[inference] from [information/data]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes do not realize that "inference" can mean both the process and the result. When you want to talk about the way someone thinks, words like "reasoning" or "process of inference" are often clearer in informal speech.
Sinónimos
reasoning (General term for thinking logically; inference is a specific type of reasoning that moves from evidence to a conclusion.)
|
deduction (Refers to a logically structured form of inference; often suggests more formal, step‑by‑step logic.)
Antónimos
intuition (An intuition is a feeling or sense without clear reasoning, the opposite of an inference based on explicit evidence.)
Colocaciones
human inference
|inference process
|inference from data
|inference in reading
|skills of inference
Temas
thinking
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Good scientific work depends on careful observation and sound inference.
- Reading comprehension tests often measure a student’s ability in inference as well as basic understanding.
- The report describes the methods of data collection, analysis, and inference in detail.
- Human inference can sometimes be biased by personal beliefs.
- Training focused on improving students’ inference and critical‑thinking skills.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In science, observation and inference are both important.
- The teacher explains how inference works when we read a story.
- Clear thinking and careful inference help us solve problems.
- This book is about logic and human inference.
- Their study looks at how language helps with inference.
Sustantivo
technical
C2
action
3
formal reasoning from data or premises
In logic and statistics, the careful, rule‑based way of getting new conclusions from given facts or numbers.
Patrón de uso:
[statistical/logical] inference about [a population/conclusion]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think "statistical inference" only means guessing. In technical use, it refers to well‑defined methods (like hypothesis tests or confidence intervals) for making conclusions about a population or process from sample data.
Sinónimos
estimation (In statistics, estimation is one specific type of inference focused on unknown values, while inference is the broader process of drawing conclusions from data.)
|
derivation (Suggests formally obtaining a result from premises; commonly used in logic and mathematics.)
Antónimos
description (Description in statistics focuses on summarizing data, while inference goes beyond the data to generalize or predict.)
Colocaciones
statistical inference
|Bayesian inference
|logical inference
|inference rules
|inference engine
|causal inference
Temas
science
|mathematics
|technology
|education
Ejemplos
- The course introduces key ideas in statistical inference, such as confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.
- Bayesian inference allows us to update our beliefs when we receive new data.
- Their method uses logical inference to check whether the program can ever reach an unsafe state.
- Causal inference aims to understand not just correlation but actual cause‑and‑effect relationships.
- The software includes an inference engine that applies rules to the knowledge base.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- We will study statistical inference in the next chapter.
- Logical inference is important in computer science and math.
- Bayesian inference combines prior beliefs with new data.
- Causal inference is hard because many factors can change the result.
- The system uses an inference engine to answer questions.
Sustantivo
technical
C2
action
4
AI model prediction phase
In AI, the step when a trained model takes new data and gives an answer or prediction.
Patrón de uso:
[model] performs [inference] on [input data]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes mix up "training" and "inference" when talking about AI. Training is when the model learns; inference is when the model is used to make predictions on new data.
Sinónimos
prediction (In machine learning, prediction is the main result of inference, but inference can also include other types of outputs and processing details.)
|
deployment (Deployment is putting a model into use; inference is the actual running of the model on new data once deployed.)
Antónimos
training (Training is the phase where a model learns from data; inference is the later phase where the trained model is used to make predictions.)
Colocaciones
model inference
|inference phase
|real‑time inference
|on‑device inference
|inference latency
|inference server
Temas
technology
|science
|business
Ejemplos
- We optimized the model for fast inference on mobile devices.
- The service separates training from inference so that predictions can run at scale.
- GPU acceleration greatly reduces inference time for large language models.
- During inference, the system takes the user’s input and returns a ranked list of recommendations.
- The team built a dedicated inference server to handle millions of requests per second.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- After training, the AI model is ready for inference.
- Fast inference is important for real‑time translation apps.
- They use special chips to speed up inference.
- The company pays for cloud servers to run model inference.
- Good hardware can make AI inference much cheaper.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
inference
AFI
GB/ˈɪnfɚəns/
US/ˈɪnfɚəns/
Sílabas y acento
in - fer - ence (3 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: inference
- Plural: inference, inferences
Familia de palabras
Forms
inferences
noun
Core family
infer
verb B2
Related words
imply
verb B2
implication
noun B2
Advanced or less common
inferential
adjective C1
inferentially
adverb
Expresiones
by inference
1/bˈaɪ ˈɪnfɚəns/
fixed phrase
formal
understood indirectly from evidence
Used to say that something is known or believed because of what was said before, not because it was said directly.
Ejemplos
- The report criticizes current policy and, by inference, the minister responsible for it.
- If the figures are correct, then, by inference, the original study must be flawed.
- He never admits it openly, but, by inference, we can see he supports the plan.
draw an inference
1/dɹˈɔ ən ˈɪnfɚəns/
fixed phrase
formal
form a conclusion from evidence
To decide what is true by using facts and clues, not by being told directly.
Ejemplos
- From these results, we can draw an inference about how the market will react.
- It is too early to draw any firm inferences from the survey data.
- Readers are left to draw their own inferences from the story.
make an inference
1/mˈeɪk ən ˈɪnfɚəns/
fixed phrase
formal
produce a conclusion from evidence
To use facts and clues to decide what something means or what is probably true.
Ejemplos
- Students are asked to make inferences from the information in the graph.
- Before you make an inference, check that you really have enough evidence.
- Children often make inferences about characters’ feelings from their actions.