Imply Versus Infer

Enfolding meaning and bringing in unspoken ideas.

Mignon Fogarty,
January 13, 2014

Imply or Infer

Writers or speakers imply. Listeners or readers infer. 


When you imply, you hint at something rather than saying it directly. Imply comes from an Old French word that meant “to enfold.” You can think of an implied statement as hidden or folded into what was actually said. For example, a writer can imply that a character is the murderer without saying it directly.

Writers or speakers imply. Listeners or readers infer. 


When you infer, you deduce some meaning that was left unsaid. Infer comes from a Latin word that means “to bring in.” You can think of readers or listeners using their own interpretation to bring a meaning that isn’t explicitly stated into a sentence. For example, a reader who sees that a character has motive and opportunity may infer that the character is the murderer.

The incorrect use of infer to mean imply is so common that in a decade or so it may be considered standard, but for now, careful writers and speakers continue to make a distinction.








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