Decrease vs. Reduction: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Type
Can be a noun and a verb.
Used as a noun.
Implied Action
May or may not imply intentionality.
Often implies a deliberate action.
Usage in Context
Describes a process or a trend.
Often describes a resultant state.
Temporal Aspect
Could suggest an ongoing process.
Suggests a state post-diminishment.
Application
Might describe natural or passive trends.
Might indicate active intervention.
ADVERTISEMENT
Decrease and Reduction Definitions
Decrease
To become smaller in size or amount.
Sales tend to decrease in January.
Reduction
A decrease in size, extent, or range.
A reduction in staff was unavoidable.
Decrease
A downward movement in quantity or value.
There was a decrease in demand.
Reduction
The amount by which something is made smaller.
The sale offers a 50% reduction.
Decrease
Diminishing in a gradual way.
The workload will decrease over time.
Reduction
Diminishing something in scale, extent, or quantity.
Reduction in hours affected staff morale.
Decrease
A reduction in number or size.
The team noticed a decrease in errors.
Reduction
The act or process of reducing.
Decrease
To become or cause to become less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity.
Reduction
The result of reducing
A reduction in absenteeism.
Decrease
The act or process of decreasing.
Reduction
The amount by which something is lessened or diminished
A reduction of 12 percent in violent crime.
Decrease
The amount by which something decreases.
Reduction
A sauce that has been thickened or concentrated by boiling.
Decrease
(intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.
The quality of our products has decreased since the main designer left.
Reduction
(Biology) The first meiotic division, in which the chromosome number is reduced from diploid to haploid. Also called reduction division.
Decrease
(transitive) To make (a quantity) smaller.
Let's decrease the volume a little so we can hear each other talking.
Reduction
A decrease in positive valence or an increase in negative valence by the gaining of electrons.
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.
Reduction
A reaction in which hydrogen is combined with a compound.
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).
Reduction
A reaction in which oxygen is removed from a compound.
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.
Reduction
The canceling of common factors in the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
Decrease
To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
That might decrease their present store.
Reduction
The converting of a fraction to its decimal equivalent.
Decrease
A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
Reduction
The converting of an expression or equation to its simplest form.
Decrease
The wane of the moon.
Reduction
The act, process, or result of reducing.
Decrease
A change downward;
There was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided
There was a sharp drop-off in sales
Reduction
The amount or rate by which something is reduced, e.g. in price.
A 5% reduction in robberies
Decrease
A process of becoming smaller or shorter
Reduction
(chemistry) A reaction in which electrons are gained and valence is reduced; often by the removal of oxygen or the addition of hydrogen.
Decrease
The amount by which something decreases
Reduction
(cooking) The process of rapidly boiling a sauce to concentrate it.
Decrease
The act of decreasing or reducing something
Reduction
(mathematics) The rewriting of an expression into a simpler form.
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
Reduction
(computability theory) a transformation of one problem into another problem, such as mapping reduction or polynomial reduction.
Decrease
Make smaller;
He decreased his staff
Reduction
(music) An arrangement for a far smaller number of parties, e.g. a keyboard solo based on a full opera.
Decrease
To lessen the degree or extent of something.
Please decrease the volume.
Reduction
A philosophical procedure intended to reveal the objects of consciousness as pure phenomena. (See phenomenological reduction.)
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
Reduction
(paying) A reduced price of something by a fraction or decimal.
Reduction
(metalworking) The ratio of a material's change in thickness compared to its thickness prior to forging and/or rolling.
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.
Reduction
The correction of observations for known errors of instruments, etc.
Reduction
The process of making a copy of something, as a figure, design, or draught, on a smaller scale, preserving the proper proportions.
Reduction
The bringing of a syllogism in one of the so-called imperfect modes into a mode in the first figure.
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.
Reduction
The operation of restoring a dislocated or fractured part to its former place.
Reduction
The act of decreasing or reducing something
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
Reduction
The act of reducing complexity
Reduction
The action or result of making something smaller.
The reduction of waste is crucial.
Reduction
A simplified form or version.
The report was provided as a reduction.
FAQs
Is Reduction always intentional?
Often, but not always, it implies an intentional act.
Can Decrease be a verb?
Yes, e.g., "Prices decrease."
Can Decrease describe a result?
It may, but typically leans towards describing a process.
Is Reduction a verb?
No, it’s used as a noun.
Does Decrease imply a process?
Yes, it often implies a process or trend of diminishing.
Can a Reduction be positive?
Yes, like a reduction in crime.
Can Reduction describe a process?
Not usually, it typically describes a result or state.
Is a Decrease always negative?
Contextually, it suggests less but isn't always negative.
Is Reduction quantitative?
Typically, as it implies a lesser quantity or amount.
Does Decrease indicate smaller numbers?
Yes, it denotes lesser size, amount, or number.
Does Reduction always mean lessening?
Generally, yes, indicating something made smaller.
Is a Decrease always noticeable?
Not necessarily; it can be subtle or drastic.
Does Reduction suggest a new state?
Often, indicating a state after being lessened.
Can Reduction refer to quality?
Yes, implying a diminishment in quality or standard.
Can you have a Reduction of time?
Yes, indicating a shortened or condensed time period.
Is Decrease comparative?
It can be, e.g., "A decrease from previous levels."
Can Reduction imply minimization?
Yes, indicating something has been minimized.
Does Decrease need a comparison?
Often, but not always.
Can time Decrease?
Yes, indicating a shortening duration.
Can quality Decrease?
Yes, indicating diminished excellence.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
