deduction

deduction — noun

1. when you use facts and logic to figure something out and reach a conclusion; als

1.名詞B2
釋義

when you use facts and logic to figure something out and reach a conclusion; also, the conclusion that you reach in this way

例句

From the muddy footprints, Detective Romi made a simple deduction about the burglar's path.

make + deduction + about [topic]

Élise's deduction proved correct when the missing keys turned up in the kitchen drawer.

possessive + deduction as conclusion

同義詞
  • inference

    very similar; inference is slightly broader and can include conclusions drawn from indirect evidence without strict logic

  • reasoning

    focuses more on the thinking process itself rather than the resulting conclusion

  • conclusion

    refers only to the endpoint result, not the logical process that leads there

文法句型

make + deduction + about [topic]

it + be + deduction + that-clause

deduction + from [evidence]

用法筆記

Often used with 'make' (make a deduction) and 'reach' (reach a deduction). As a process (uncountable), deduction refers to logical reasoning in general: 'scientific deduction'. As a specific result (countable), it names the conclusion itself.

常見錯誤

❌I made a deduction that it will rain.' (when meaning a guess).
✅I made a deduction that the wet ground meant it had rained.
💡A deduction must be based on known facts and logic, not a random guess.

2. when you take one number or quantity away from another, or the amount removed in

2.名詞B1
釋義

when you take one number or quantity away from another, or the amount removed in this way

例句

After the deduction of shipping costs, the final price was still quite reasonable.

deduction of [cost/item]

Rania noticed a small deduction on her grocery receipt that she could not explain.

同義詞
  • subtraction

    identical in meaning; subtraction is more common in maths, deduction in financial contexts

  • removal

    broader and less precise; does not imply a numerical calculation

反義詞

文法句型

deduction + of [amount/part]

deduction + from [total]

after + deduction + of [costs/expenses]

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific subtracted amount (e.g., 'several deductions'). Uncountable when referring to the action of subtracting in general (e.g., 'Deduction of the costs left a small profit').

常見錯誤

❌The deduction of the discount meant I loss money.' (wrong word 'loss').
✅The deduction of the discount meant I saved less than expected.
💡Use vocabulary about subtraction and saving, not loss, for discounts.

3. money that an employer takes out of your pay before you receive it, usually for

3.名詞B1
釋義

money that an employer takes out of your pay before you receive it, usually for things such as tax, health insurance, or retirement savings

例句

Imran checked his payslip and saw a deduction for the new health insurance plan.

deduction for [purpose]

The monthly deduction for pension savings comes straight out of every worker's salary.

同義詞
  • withholding

    more specific; refers to tax taken directly from pay, not other benefit deductions

  • contribution

    different direction — contribution is money you put in; deduction is money taken out

反義詞
  • refund

    money returned to you, opposite direction of flow

文法句型

deduction + for [purpose/benefit]

claim + a + deduction + for [expense]

salary/wage + deduction

用法筆記

Countable only — you talk about 'a deduction', 'deductions', 'several deductions'. In tax contexts, 'deduction' also means an expense you can subtract from your taxable income when filing a tax return (e.g., a charitable donation deduction).

常見錯誤

❌My tax deduction was low, so I paid a lot of tax.' (vague).
✅My tax deduction for charitable donations lowered the amount of tax I owed.
💡Specify what the deduction is for, to avoid ambiguity between payroll deductions and tax-return deductions.