deduct

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To take away a particular amount from a total, especially from money that is owed or from a score.

   Grammar: Takes an object: deduct the fee. Often used with from: deduct $20 from the total.

   Patterns

   • deduct something from something
   • deduct something for something
   • deduct something

   The company will deduct the cost of the uniform from your first paycheck.

   You can deduct the interest you paid on your student loan.

   The referee deducted two points from the team for the foul.

2. 2verbtransitiveformal

   To reach a conclusion by reasoning from known facts; to infer.

   Grammar: Takes a clause or noun as object: deduce that he was lying; deduce the answer.

   Patterns

   • deduce something
   • deduce that ...
   • deduce something from something

   From the muddy footprints, the detective deduced that the thief had entered through the window.

   We can deduce the age of the rock from the fossils it contains.

Word forms

Common combinations

deduct from

The bank will deduct the service charge from your account.

deduct a point

The judge deducted a point for the late submission.

deduct taxes

Your employer deducts taxes before paying you.

deductible expense

Charitable donations are a deductible expense.

Synonyms and how they differ

subtract

Used mainly in mathematics for taking one number away from another; deduct is more common for money or points.

withhold

Means to refuse to give something, often money, until a condition is met; deduct simply removes an amount.

take off

Informal and general; deduct is more formal and precise in financial contexts.

Opposites

Word family

deduction noun

The act of taking an amount away, or the amount itself.

deductible adjective

Able to be taken away from a total, especially from taxable income.

Commonly confused: deduct or deduce?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “deduct”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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