Main Entry: de·duc·tion

Pronunciation: \di-ˈdək-shən, dē-\

Function: noun

Date: 15th century

1 a : an act of taking away <deduction of legitimate business expenses> b : something that is or may be subtracted <deductions from his taxable income>
2 a : the deriving of a conclusion by reasoning; specifically : inference in which the conclusion about particulars follows necessarily from general or universal premises — compare induction b : a conclusion reached by logical deduction