deduction

1 something that is or may be subtracted <contestants get a deduction from their scores for every incorrect guess> Synonyms abatement, discount, reduction Related Words giveback, kickback, rebate; dent, depreciation; decline, decrement, diminishment, diminution, drop, fall, loss; forfeit, forfeiture, penalty Near Antonyms accretion, accrual, augmentation, boost, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise; appreciation Antonyms accession, addition

2 the act or an instance of taking away from a total <the deduction of the amount awarded to the plaintiff in order to pay the legal fees> Synonyms subtractionRelated Words discount, giveback, kickback, rebate; abatement, decline, decrement, detraction, diminishment, diminution, drop, fall, loss, reduction, shrinkage; curtailment, cut, cutbackNear Antonyms boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise; accretion, accrual, accumulation, addendum, appendix, augmentation, supplement, supplementationAntonyms accession, addition

3 an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning <his impressive deduction of the correct answer from only a few hints> Synonyms consequence, conclusion, determination, eduction, induction, inference, sequiturRelated Words decision, deliverance, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), resolution, ruling, verdict; conjecture, guess, surmise; assumption, presumption, supposition