inferential
adjective
in·fer·en·tial ˌin-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl 
1
: relating to, involving, or resembling inference
2
: deduced or deducible by inference
Synonyms
- a priori
- deducible
- deductive
- derivable
- inferable
- inferrible
- reasoned
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
there is only inferential evidence that the ancient site was used for celebrations of the summer solstice
Recent Examples on the Web The purpose of this analysis was to gain a better sense of the relationship between turnout and literacy, rather than conduct a causal or inferential analysis. 
Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 But in many feats of machine learning, for which Bayesian probability theory often serves as the inferential engine, the prior assumptions instilled by a model’s architects play a critical role in its interpretation of its observations. Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 For now, health officials are going on indirect lines of evidence—some of which is strong, but inferential nonetheless. Alice Park, Time, 18 Aug. 2021 Other challenges include inferential comprehension, spatial aspects of math, and managing transitions and new situations, Dinklage says. Claire Gillespie, Health.com, 17 Sep. 2020 The inferential logic, then, was this: Anyone could be a source of transmission. Megan Molteni, Wired, 2 July 2020 Now, Muñoz’s inferential datasets don’t convince every river researcher. Adam Rogers, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2018 Use the analysis that is apt for answering a particular question—descriptive or inferential. Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 25 Oct. 2017 See More
Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 But in many feats of machine learning, for which Bayesian probability theory often serves as the inferential engine, the prior assumptions instilled by a model’s architects play a critical role in its interpretation of its observations. Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 For now, health officials are going on indirect lines of evidence—some of which is strong, but inferential nonetheless. Alice Park, Time, 18 Aug. 2021 Other challenges include inferential comprehension, spatial aspects of math, and managing transitions and new situations, Dinklage says. Claire Gillespie, Health.com, 17 Sep. 2020 The inferential logic, then, was this: Anyone could be a source of transmission. Megan Molteni, Wired, 2 July 2020 Now, Muñoz’s inferential datasets don’t convince every river researcher. Adam Rogers, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2018 Use the analysis that is apt for answering a particular question—descriptive or inferential. Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 25 Oct. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin inferentia, from Latin inferent-, inferens, present participle of inferre
First Known Use
1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
inferential
adjective
in·fer·en·tial ˌin-fə-ˈren-chəl
1
: relating to, involving, or resembling inference
2
: deduced or deducible by inference
inferential
adjective
as in inferable
being or provable by reasoning in which the conclusion follows necessarily from given information there is only inferential evidence that the ancient site was used for celebrations of the summer solstice Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inferable
- derivable
- deductive
- logical
- reasoned
- deducible
- theoretical
- inferrible
- hypothetical
- a priori
- suppositional
- theoretic
- conjectural
- speculative
- purported
- supposed
- rational
- academical
- academic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inductive
- explicit
- categorical
- definite
- absolute
- inducible
- intuitive
- express
- instinctive
- irrational
- categoric
- nondeductive
- illogical