n.1. a conclusion deduced from an earlier premise or premises according to valid rules of inference, or the process of drawing such a conclusion. Some hold that an inference, as contrasted with a mere conclusion, requires that the person making it actually believe that the inference and the premises from which it is drawn are true. Also called logical inference. 2. in statistical analysis, a conclusion about a population based on logical reasoning from data gathered about a smaller sample (see inferential statistics). The most common example of this type of inference is statistical hypothesis testing (see inferential test). —inferentialadj.