reduction
noun
re·duc·tion
ri-ˈdək-shən 
plural reductions
1
: the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced
2
a
: something made by reducing
b
: the amount by which something is reduced
3
[Spanish reducción, from Latin reduction-, reductio]
: a South American Indigenous settlement directed by Jesuit missionaries
4
: meiosis sense 2
specifically
: production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division
Examples of reduction in a Sentence
a drastic reduction in size
Many voters want to see some reduction of the deficit.
There is a 20 percent reduction on selected items during this sale.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cuts to the program — including approximately $1 trillion in reductions passed in recent legislation — could ripple through agencies that employ aides and nursing assistants.
—
Allie Canal, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
If this reduction in property taxes does pass, local governments will have to find other ways to replace this money.
—Delores Rangel, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The headcount reduction across 2025 and 2026 comes as UPS has been downsizing its Amazon volumes, cutting out 1 million Amazon parcels flowing through its network per day since the start of last year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2020, the state was able to meet its initial 20% reduction target as the pandemic kept many drivers off the road.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reduction
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Allie Canal, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
If this reduction in property taxes does pass, local governments will have to find other ways to replace this money.
—Delores Rangel, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
The headcount reduction across 2025 and 2026 comes as UPS has been downsizing its Amazon volumes, cutting out 1 million Amazon parcels flowing through its network per day since the start of last year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2020, the state was able to meet its initial 20% reduction target as the pandemic kept many drivers off the road.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reduction
Cite this Entry
“Reduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reduction. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reduction
noun
re·duc·tion
ri-ˈdək-shən
1
: the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced
2
a
: something made by reducing
b
: the amount by which something is reduced in price
3
: meiosis
especially
: halving of the chromosome number in the reduction division
reductive
adjective
-ˈdək-tiv
Medical Definition
reduction
noun
re·duc·tion
ri-ˈdək-shən
1
: the replacement or realignment of a body part in normal position or restoration of a bodily condition to normal
2
: the process of reducing by chemical or electrochemical means
3
: the psychological diminishment of emotion or needs through activity or adjustment
4
: meiosis
specifically
: production of the gametic chromosome number in the first meiotic division
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