Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, 8th edition

de duct ive

BrE / d

d kt v / d kt v /

NAmE / d adjective

WORD ORIGIN

[ usually before noun ] using knowledge about things that are generally true in order to think about and understand particular situations or problems deductive logic/reasoning compare inductive

in duct ive

BrE /

n d kt v / n d kt v /

NAmE / adjective

WORD ORIGIN

1 ( technical ) using particular facts and examples to form general rules and
principles an inductive argument inductive reasoning compare deductive 2 ( physics ) connected with the induction of electricity in duct ive ly / BrE n d kt vli ; NAmE n d kt vli / adverb a theory derived inductively from the data Oxford University Press, 2010

` Induction is usually described as moving from the specific to the general, while deduction begins with the general and ends with the specific..
` The decision-making process associated with the development and implementation of a business strategy involves four interrelated stages: 1. Identifying problems and opportunities 2. Diagnosing and assessing problems or opportunities 3. Selecting and implementing a course of action 4. Evaluating the course of action