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inference

American  
[in-fer-uhns, -fruhns] / ˈɪn fər əns, -frəns /

noun

  1. the act or process of inferring.

  2. something that is inferred.

    to make rash inferences.

  3. Logic.

    1. the process of deriving the strict logical consequences of assumed premises.

    2. the process of arriving at some conclusion that, though it is not logically derivable from the assumed premises, possesses some degree of probability relative to the premises.

    3. a proposition reached by a process of inference.

inference British  
/ ˈɪnfərəns, -frəns /

noun

  1. the act or process of inferring

  2. an inferred conclusion, deduction, etc

  3. any process of reasoning from premises to a conclusion

  4. logic the specific mode of reasoning used See also deduction induction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
inference Cultural  

  1. In logic, the deriving of one idea from another. Inference can proceed through either induction or deduction.

inference Idioms  

  1. see draw an inference.

Other Word Forms

  • misinference noun
  • preinference noun
  • superinference noun

Etymology

Origin of inference

From the Medieval Latin word inferentia, dating back to 1585–95. See infer, -ence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Specifically, customers are turning to AI chips more for inference, which is the process by which models reach conclusions based on information that’s new to them.

From MarketWatch

The company is designing a new system for “inference” computing, a form of processing that allows AI models to respond to queries, according to people familiar with the plans.

From The Wall Street Journal

While growing demand for inference is a positive signal, Nvidia’s results also laid bare the company’s cheap valuation relative to its competitors.

From Barron's

While the costs are a challenge, the demand is coming from a shift to inference, or running AI models, which eventually translates to revenue.

From MarketWatch

A factor that will likely affect Nvidia’s fortunes will be the transition from AI-model training to inference, the process by which AI tools respond to queries.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.