Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

inferential

adjective
in·​fer·​en·​tial | \ ˌin-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl \

Definition of inferential

1 : relating to, involving, or resembling inference
2 : deduced or deducible by inference
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about inferential

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for inferential

Synonyms

a priori, deducible, deductive, derivable, inferable (also inferrible), reasoned

Antonyms

nondeductive

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of inferential in a Sentence

there is only inferential evidence that the ancient site was used for celebrations of the summer solstice

Recent Examples on the Web

 Now, Muñoz’s inferential datasets don’t convince every river researcher. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "Too Much Engineering Has Made Mississippi River Floods Worse," 4 Apr. 2018 Use the analysis that is apt for answering a particular question—descriptive or inferential. — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: How Tennis Can Improve Match Statistics," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inferential.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of inferential

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for inferential

Medieval Latin inferentia, from Latin inferent-, inferens, present participle of inferre

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about inferential

Share inferential

Statistics for inferential

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for inferential

The first known use of inferential was in 1657

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for inferential

inferential

adjective
in·​fer·​en·​tial | \ ˌin-fə-ˈren-chəl \

Legal Definition of inferential

1 : relating to, involving, or resembling inference
2 : deduced or deducible by inference

More from Merriam-Webster on inferential

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with inferential

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inferential

Comments on inferential

What made you want to look up inferential? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

gargantuan

tremendous in size, volume, or degree

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games