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

3

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

4

: meiosis sense 2

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

reductional

ri-ˈdək-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• abatement
• 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

However, those people who retained their paper experienced only a small reduction in their overall anger. —Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024

Just a few months ago, Champion-Cain had filed a legal brief in hopes of getting a reduction in her sentence. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

But those markets are riddled with phantom credits that often don’t represent real reductions in emissions or from projects that don’t last long enough to actually help fight climate change. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024

The Chinese EVs being imported into places like Europe have also been hampered by reduction in subsidies for electric car sales. —Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 17 Apr. 2024

Earlier this year, experts who were fairly confident the Fed would make a number of cuts down from the 5.25% to 5.5% bracket are now beginning to question whether a reduction will happen at all this year. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

In 2021, a Bloomberg investigation found Shell and competitor BP had attributed a reduction in greenhouse gases in 2019 and 2020 to divestments. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024

Workers staged a 260 day strike in 2022 In May 2022, hundreds of workers at CNH Industrial went on strike protesting an increase in health care costs, lack of compensation to make up for the increases and a reduction in retirement benefits. —Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024

Under state law, the companies cited in the scaffolding collapse can contest the penalties within 15 days and request an informal conference to argue for a penalty reduction. —Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024

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

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