reduction

noun

re·​duc·​tion ri-ˈdək-shən 

plural reductions

1

: the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced

2

a

: something made by reducing

b

: the amount by which something is reduced

3

[Spanish reducción, from Latin reduction-, reductio] : a South American Indigenous settlement directed by Jesuit missionaries

4

: meiosis sense 2

specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division

reductional

ri-ˈdək-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of reduction

• deduction
• discount

Examples of reduction in a Sentence

a drastic reduction in size

Many voters want to see some reduction of the deficit.

There is a 20 percent reduction on selected items during this sale.

Recent Examples on the Web

Any reduction in tumor size is anecdotal and may be due to a variety of reasons including weight loss. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026

Federal water managers have been trying to get the seven states to agree on a water-use reduction plan. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 26 June 2026

And even that reduction won’t be enough to solve the problem for the long term. — Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

Oakland Unified officials said a $30 million spending reduction in recent months resolved the schools’ operating deficit and has even produced nearly $8 million in breathing room, though longer-term costs still outpace revenues through the end of the decade. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reduccion restoration, from Middle French reducion, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin reduction-, reductio reduction (in a syllogism), from Latin, restoration, from reducere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reduction

• oxidation-reduction
• reduction division
• reduction gear

Rhymes for reduction

• abduction
• adduction
• conduction
• construction
• deduction
• destruction
• eduction
• induction
• instruction
• obstruction
• production
• seduction

Kids Definition

reduction

noun

re·​duc·​tion ri-ˈdək-shən 

1

: the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced

2

a

: something made by reducing

b

: the amount by which something is reduced in price

3

: meiosis

especially : halving of the chromosome number in the reduction division

reductive

-ˈdək-tiv

adjective

Medical Definition

reduction

noun

re·​duc·​tion ri-ˈdək-shən 

1

: the replacement or realignment of a body part in normal position or restoration of a bodily condition to normal

2

: the process of reducing by chemical or electrochemical means

3

: the psychological diminishment of emotion or needs through activity or adjustment

4

: meiosis

specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division