INFER
What does "INFER" mean?
To reach a conclusion from evidence and reasoning rather than from direct statement.
Meanings
- To deduce or conclude something from evidence and reasoning. From the muddy boots I inferred he had walked through the field.
- To hint or imply (a usage many guides consider an error, reserving 'imply' for this). Some speakers use 'infer' to mean suggest, which careful writers avoid. informal
Did you know?
- 'Infer', 'transfer', 'refer', and 'fertile' all carry the Latin root 'ferre' (to bear or carry) - to infer is to carry a conclusion in from the evidence.
Word origin
From Latin 'inferre' (to bring in, carry in, deduce), from 'in-' (in) plus 'ferre' (to carry, bear) - the same 'ferre' behind 'transfer', 'refer', and 'fertile'.
Remember it
The speaker imPLIES; the listener inFERS. The 'F' of inFer is the Fact you Fetch from the clues.
A little poem
Two cups, still warm, and the door left ajar -
I infer the whole evening from where the spoons are.
couplet
Wordplay
- A detective never assumes - she infers, which is the same guess wearing a better coat.
What it teaches
To infer is to read the footprints, not the foot; reason builds a likely truth from leftover signs.
Quick facts
What does INFER mean?
To reach a conclusion from evidence and reasoning rather than from direct statement.
Is INFER a valid word?
Yes — INFER is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is INFER?
INFER has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does INFER come from?
From Latin 'inferre' (to bring in, carry in, deduce), from 'in-' (in) plus 'ferre' (to carry, bear) - the same 'ferre' behind 'transfer', 'refer', and 'fertile'.
What can INFER teach us?
To infer is to read the footprints, not the foot; reason builds a likely truth from leftover signs.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.