What does reduction mean?
A reduction is the process of making something smaller, fewer, less expensive, or less extensive. It can refer to the action itself or to the amount by which something has decreased, as in a reduction in costs or a reduction in population. The word is common in business, government, manufacturing, health, and education, where it often describes planned changes intended to improve efficiency or adjust a system. Reduction can also have technical meanings: in chemistry, it refers to a process involving the gain of electrons; in mathematics, it can mean simplifying an expression or quantity. Because “reduce” can imply both removing excess and bringing something into a more manageable form, reduction often suggests a deliberate change rather than a simple natural decrease.
nounThe act or process of making something smaller in size, quantity, cost, or scope. A reduction can also refer to the amount by which something has been decreased.
- The act or process of making something smaller in size, quantity, cost, or scope.
- An amount by which something is decreased or diminished.
- A chemical process in which a substance gains electrons, often corresponding to a decrease in oxidation state.
- The process of bringing a mathematical expression or quantity to a simpler form.
"The shop announced a substantial reduction in prices during the end-of-season sale."
"The company is considering a reduction in its weekly production schedule."
"Reduction of the compound with hydrogen produced a more reactive substance."
The plural is used for separate decreases or instances of reducing something.
"The company made further reductions in operating costs."
Reduction is the word behind the dramatic claim that something has been cut down, scaled back, or brought to a lower level.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reduction come from?
Reduction comes from Latin reductio, a noun meaning “a bringing back” or “a leading back,” derived from reducere, meaning “to lead back” or “to bring back.” English borrowed the word in the 15th century, initially with meanings connected to bringing back or restoring. The modern sense of making something smaller developed through the idea of reducing quantity, size, or scope.
Related word forms
How reduction is actually used
In general use, reduction often suggests a deliberate lowering of cost, size, or scope. In chemistry and mathematics, it has more technical meanings that should be understood in context.