Definition of infer

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in·fer    (n-fûr) KEY 

VERB:
in·ferred, in·fer·ring, in·fers
VERB:
tr.

1. To conclude from evidence or premises.
2. To reason from circumstance; surmise: We can infer that his motive in publishing the diary was less than honorable.
3. To lead to as a consequence or conclusion: "Socrates argued that a statue inferred the existence of a sculptor" (Academy).
4. To hint; imply.

VERB:
intr.

To draw inferences.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin nferre, to bring in, adduce : in-, in ; see in-² + ferre, to bear; see bher-¹ in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
in·fera·ble(Adjective), in·fera·bly(Adverb), in·ferrer(Noun)
Usage Note:
Infer is sometimes confused with imply, but the distinction is a useful one. When we say that a speaker or sentence implies something, we mean that it is conveyed or suggested without being stated outright: When the mayor said that she would not rule out a business tax increase, she implied (not inferred) that some taxes might be raised. Inference, on the other hand, is the activity performed by a reader or interpreter in drawing conclusions that are not explicit in what is said: When the mayor said that she would not rule out a tax increase, we inferred that she had been consulting with some new financial advisers, since her old advisers were in favor of tax reductions.