Implication and Inference

The noun form of imply is implication. An implication is a hint or clue that something is true.

• There was a strong implication that attendance was required.
• When I found the bloody knife in his apartment, the implication was obvious.

The noun form of infer is inference. An inference is an educated guess, a conclusion based on indirect evidence.

• We have many inferences but no real facts.
• The teacher asked the students to draw an inference based on the clues given in the storybook.

Bethany made an inference about the contents inside the wrapped gift based on the sound it made when she shook it.

Infer and deduce are synonyms. Both words mean the same thing—"to figure something out, based on indirect evidence." Likewise, an inference and a deduction are the same thing. Both words refer to something that you have figured out, based on indirect evidence.

Instructions for the Quiz

Answer the questions.

Quiz