Decrease vs. Reduction: What's the Difference?
Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 3, 2023
Decrease refers to the process or act of becoming smaller, while Reduction is the result of making something smaller or less.
Key Differences
Decrease, as a term, illuminates a process or action wherein something diminishes in size, quantity, or extent over a specific duration. It emphasizes a trend or a movement from a higher value or size to a lower one. Conversely, Reduction often points towards the outcome or the state that results from the act of reducing or making something smaller or less in quantity. While both imply a diminishing, Reduction can also indicate a condition or a resultant state following any diminishing act.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
In the context of application, Decrease can function as both a noun and a verb, thereby offering itself to sentences where it might describe an action (to decrease) or a state (a decrease). On the other hand, Reduction stands as a noun, often representing the outcome or result of an act of reducing, thus highlighting its less dynamic and more static nature in comparison to Decrease.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
A Decrease doesn’t always suggest intervention or deliberate action – it might simply describe a phenomenon or an observed decline without implying that it was intentionally brought about. In contrast, Reduction often subtly implies a deliberate act or intervention aimed at reducing something, making it slightly more active in the causative sense, even though it’s describing a state or outcome.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
While discussing financial contexts, a Decrease in profits might point towards a decline or downward trend without suggesting an endpoint or settled result. A Reduction in prices, however, although describing a similar decline, might often suggest a reevaluation or a strategic decision, pointing towards an established, newly set state of the prices being lower.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Through careful observation, Decrease might generally lean more towards describing ongoing, transitional, or comparative states/trends, even when used as a noun. Reduction, on the other hand, might provide a subtle nudge towards a more definitive, resultant state or condition, often emanating from a decision or intervention.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Implied Action
May or may not imply intentionality.
Often implies a deliberate action.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Usage in Context
Describes a process or a trend.
Often describes a resultant state.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Temporal Aspect
Could suggest an ongoing process.
Suggests a state post-diminishment.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Application
Might describe natural or passive trends.
Might indicate active intervention.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
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Decrease and Reduction Definitions
Decrease
To become smaller in size or amount.
Sales tend to decrease in January.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
Reduction
A decrease in size, extent, or range.
A reduction in staff was unavoidable.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Decrease
A downward movement in quantity or value.
There was a decrease in demand.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Reduction
The amount by which something is made smaller.
The sale offers a 50% reduction.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
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Reduction
Diminishing something in scale, extent, or quantity.
Reduction in hours affected staff morale.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
Decrease
A reduction in number or size.
The team noticed a decrease in errors.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Decrease
To become or cause to become less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The amount by which something is lessened or diminished
A reduction of 12 percent in violent crime.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
(intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.
The quality of our products has decreased since the main designer left.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(Biology) The first meiotic division, in which the chromosome number is reduced from diploid to haploid. Also called reduction division.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
(transitive) To make (a quantity) smaller.
Let's decrease the volume a little so we can hear each other talking.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
A decrease in positive valence or an increase in negative valence by the gaining of electrons.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
An amount by which a quantity is decreased.
After six years of constant growth, the company reported a slight decrease in sales last year.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
(knitting) A reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch. See Decrease (knitting).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
To grow less, - opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The olive leaf, which certainly them toldThe flood decreased.
Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye;Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The canceling of common factors in the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
That might decrease their present store.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
A change downward;
There was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided
There was a sharp drop-off in sales
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The amount or rate by which something is reduced, e.g. in price.
A 5% reduction in robberies
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(chemistry) A reaction in which electrons are gained and valence is reduced; often by the removal of oxygen or the addition of hydrogen.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(cooking) The process of rapidly boiling a sauce to concentrate it.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
Decrease in size, extent, or range;
The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester
The cabin pressure fell dramatically
Her weight fall to under a hundred pounds
His voice fell to a whisper
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(computability theory) a transformation of one problem into another problem, such as mapping reduction or polynomial reduction.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(music) An arrangement for a far smaller number of parties, e.g. a keyboard solo based on a full opera.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Decrease
To lessen the degree or extent of something.
Please decrease the volume.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
Reduction
A philosophical procedure intended to reveal the objects of consciousness as pure phenomena. (See phenomenological reduction.)
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(medicine) A medical procedure to restore a fracture or dislocation to the correct alignment, usually with a closed approach but sometimes with an open approach (surgery).
Closed reduction
Open reduction and internal fixation
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
(metalworking) The ratio of a material's change in thickness compared to its thickness prior to forging and/or rolling.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The act of reducing, or state of being reduced; conversion to a given state or condition; diminution; conquest; as, the reduction of a body to powder; the reduction of things to order; the reduction of the expenses of government; the reduction of a rebellious province.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The correction of observations for known errors of instruments, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The process of making a copy of something, as a figure, design, or draught, on a smaller scale, preserving the proper proportions.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The bringing of a syllogism in one of the so-called imperfect modes into a mode in the first figure.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The act, process, or result of reducing{7}; as, the reduction of iron from its ores; the reduction of an aldehyde into an alcohol.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The operation of restoring a dislocated or fractured part to its former place.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
Any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 10, 2022
Reduction
The action or result of making something smaller.
The reduction of waste is crucial.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
Reduction
A simplified form or version.
The report was provided as a reduction.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
FAQs
Is Reduction always intentional?
Often, but not always, it implies an intentional act.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Can Decrease describe a result?
It may, but typically leans towards describing a process.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
Does Decrease imply a process?
Yes, it often implies a process or trend of diminishing.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Can Reduction describe a process?
Not usually, it typically describes a result or state.
Sara Rehman
Oct 03, 2023
Is a Decrease always negative?
Contextually, it suggests less but isn't always negative.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
Is Reduction quantitative?
Typically, as it implies a lesser quantity or amount.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Does Decrease indicate smaller numbers?
Yes, it denotes lesser size, amount, or number.
Harlon Moss
Oct 03, 2023
Does Reduction always mean lessening?
Generally, yes, indicating something made smaller.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Is a Decrease always noticeable?
Not necessarily; it can be subtle or drastic.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Does Reduction suggest a new state?
Often, indicating a state after being lessened.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
Can Reduction refer to quality?
Yes, implying a diminishment in quality or standard.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 03, 2023
Can you have a Reduction of time?
Yes, indicating a shortened or condensed time period.
Janet White
Oct 03, 2023
Can Reduction imply minimization?
Yes, indicating something has been minimized.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 03, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera SaeedSumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.
