inference - the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observationanalogy - an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others corollary - (logic) an inference that follows directly from the proof of another proposition derivation - a line of reasoning that shows how a conclusion follows logically from accepted propositions extrapolation - an inference about the future (or about some hypothetical situation) based on known facts and observations presumption - (law) an inference of the truth of a fact from other facts proved or admitted or judicially noticed |