Entailment: meaning, definitions and examples

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entailment

 

[ɪnˈteɪlmənt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

logic

The relation that holds between a pair of propositions when the truth of one requires the truth of the other. In other words, if proposition A entails proposition B, then the truth of A guarantees the truth of B.

Synonyms

consequence, implication.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
entailment

Use 'entailment' in logical or semantic discussions when you want to express that one thing necessarily follows from another. It's often used in philosophical or theoretical contexts.

  • The entailment of his argument is that all humans must have rights
implication

Use 'implication' when you want to indicate something that is suggested or inferred indirectly, rather than being explicitly stated. It's often used in contexts where reading between the lines is required.

  • Her tone had the implication that she was not happy with the decision
consequence

Use 'consequence' when discussing the results or effects of actions, events, or decisions. It is often used in everyday language to highlight outcomes that can be either positive or negative.

  • Skipping school has its consequences, such as falling behind in your studies

Examples of usage

  • In logic, entailment is a fundamental concept to understand the logical consequence of propositions.
  • If the premise is true, then the entailment must also be true.
Context #2 | Noun

linguistics

The relationship between two sentences where the truth of one necessitates the truth of the other. In other words, a sentence entails another if it is impossible for the first to be true while the second is false.

Synonyms

implication, inference.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
entailment

Typically used in logical or philosophical discussions to describe a necessary consequence or condition that logically follows from a premise.

  • The entailment of A implies B means that if A is true, then B must also be true.
  • His argument has several entailments that need to be considered.
implication

Commonly used in everyday language to refer to the suggestion or potential consequence of a statement or action. It often carries a connotation of something that is not directly stated but can be inferred.

  • The implications of her words were clear to everyone in the room.
  • What are the implications of this decision for our future plans?
inference

Used when referring to the process of drawing a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. It is often used in scientific, logical, and everyday contexts.

  • Based on the data, the scientist made a reasonable inference.
  • His inference from the clues was that she was not telling the truth.

Examples of usage

  • In linguistics, entailment is used to analyze the semantic relationships between sentences.
  • The word 'mother' entails the word 'female'.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Old French 'entailler,' meaning to cut into, reflecting how one situation can cut into the consequences of another.
  • In legal contexts, entailment refers to a property law concept where an estate is limited to certain heirs, causing chain consequences.
  • The term became more popular in philosophical texts in the 17th century, where it began to describe conditions and implications.

Philosophy

  • Philosophers like Aristotle discussed entailment in terms of syllogisms, which are logical arguments where one conclusion follows from premises.
  • In modern logic, entailment signifies that if one proposition is true, then another proposition must also be true, shaping logical reasoning.
  • Entailment is key in discussions of deductive reasoning, establishing how conclusions can be drawn from general principles.

Cognitive Science

  • Research shows that understanding entailment helps in language processing, aiding how we comprehend sentences and verbal arguments.
  • Children develop the ability to understand entailment through interactions and storytelling, influencing their cognitive development.
  • Cognitive linguistics often studies how entailment relates to mental models, helping people navigate meaning in everyday conversations.

Mathematics

  • In mathematics, entailment is used in set theory, where one set being a subset entails certain properties about its elements.
  • The concept is essential in formal proofs, where proving one theorem can entail the truth of another related theorem.
  • Mathematicians utilize entailment in logical frameworks to draw conclusions that must hold under certain conditions.

Pop Culture

  • In movies, the concept often applies to plot twists, where one plot point entails a surprising outcome later in the story.
  • Many sitcoms use entailment humorously; a character's silly action can lead to humorous consequences that follow logically.
  • In the realm of video games, player decisions often entail different outcomes, leading to unique story branches based on choices.

Translations

Translations of the word "entailment" in other languages:

🇵🇹 implicação

🇮🇳 निहितार्थ

🇩🇪 Implikation

🇮🇩 implikasi

🇺🇦 імплікація

🇵🇱 implikacja

🇯🇵 含意

🇫🇷 implication

🇪🇸 implicación

🇹🇷 içerme

🇰🇷 함축

🇸🇦 تضمين

🇨🇿 implikace

🇸🇰 implikácia

🇨🇳 蕴涵

🇸🇮 implikacija

🇮🇸 ályktun

🇰🇿 қорытынды

🇬🇪 გულისხმობა

🇦🇿 məna

🇲🇽 implicación

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,586 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.