reduction

noun re·duc·tion \ ri-ˈdək-shən \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

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

[Spanish reducción, from Latin reduction-, reductio]

: a South American Indian settlement directed by Jesuit missionaries

4 : meiosis 2; specifically : production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division

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reductional

play \ri-ˈdək-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

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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 of reduction from the Web

Creating a process for evaluating non-structural flood risk reduction efforts, including land use regulations and flood proofing.

— tristan baurick, NOLA.com, "Are Mississippi River fish safe to eat? It depends: report," 11 Apr. 2018
Before his arrest, Sanchez had been tapped to work on the group’s violence-reduction efforts in Latin America.

— jason meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Former 'violence interrupter' for CeaseFire handed 27 months in prison for gun offense," 10 Apr. 2018
Now Democrats and Republicans will be rushing to salvage parts of what was once sweeping crime-reduction legislation endorsed by Gov. Larry Hogan and lawmakers to help reduce violence in Baltimore.

— michael dresser, baltimoresun.com, "Crime, guns are among unresolved issues on final day of Maryland's legislative session," 9 Apr. 2018
The total-body benefits—more energy, better sleep, stress reduction, and brain clarity—are not to be underestimated.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "A Healthy Gut Is the Secret to Better Sleep, Clear Skin, and Less Stress," 6 Apr. 2018
Almost a decade has passed since Montag underwent a dramatic transformation in 2009, which included a breast augmentation, brow-lifts and a chin reduction, among other alterations.

— Fox News, "Heidi Montag claims she died briefly during a day of 10 procedures," 5 Apr. 2018
Or a reduction of it all to a matter of inconvenience.

— marcos bretón, sacbee, "Face it, you just may not believe in Martin Luther King Jr. | The Sacramento Bee," 4 Apr. 2018
Exercise, healthy eating, and stress-reduction techniques—like mindfulness, acupuncture, or hypnotherapy—may be helpful, as well.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "12 Reasons You Might Have Cramps That Have Nothing to Do With Your Period," 27 Mar. 2018
To prepare for mandatory reductions, his doctor has tapered him down to a daily dose equivalent of about 200 milligrams of morphine.

— jan hoffman, New York Times, "Medicare Is Cracking Down on Opioids. Doctors Fear Pain Patients Will Suffer.," 27 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of reduction

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year