- [countable, uncountable] an act of making something less or smaller; the state of being made less or smaller
- Some staff received wage rises, while others experienced a reduction.
- reduction in something This year has seen a 33% reduction in the number of hospital beds available.
- a drastic reduction in costs
- Business is improving following the reduction in interest rates.
- There has been some reduction in unemployment.
- a significant/substantial reduction in spending
- The report recommends further reductions in air and noise emissions.
- Concern over global warming has not led to a reduction in the use of oil and gas.
- Greater access to medical care for older people will result in reductions in mortality.
- reduction of something There are continuing demands for a reduction of US troop levels in the country.
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectb2- A small percentage reduction in the cost of materials would mean a significant increase in profit.
- Asian elephants have experienced a 50% reduction in numbers over the last three generations.
- Every effort is made to secure the highest possible reduction in casualties.
- Figures just released show a steady reduction in levels of emissions over the last four years.
- I haven't noticed any significant reduction in the performance of my car since switching to unleaded fuel.
- I welcome the reduction in road traffic fatalities.
- Our average margins dropped to 35%, which represents a reduction in gross margins of £109 million.
- Police said they had noticed a significant reduction in crime last year.
- She had a breast reduction last year.
- She proposed a reduction in the state president's powers.
- The IMF claims to put poverty reduction at the heart of its policies.
- The budget forecasts a deficit reduction of 27%.
- The changes may result in a greater reduction in employee numbers than we had previously expected.
- The company has had a reduction in sales.
- The government has found it difficult to make real reductions in government spending.
- The result is a 75 to 80% size reduction.
- There has been a sharp reduction in the number of accidents on motorways.
- These simple changes will make a substantial reduction in the fat content of your diet.
- They are concerned about the reduction in numbers of people eligible for legal aid.
- They suffered a severe reduction in income.
- a drug strategy which prioritizes harm reduction
- a reduction in the speed limit from 50 to 40 miles per hour
- a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
- economic growth through a reduction in interest rates
- reduction by 30%
- the government's waste reduction targets
- the reduction in the number of hospital beds
- Both analyses show a reduction in the incidence of cancer.
- The study examines how the police can achieve long-term reductions in crime.
- deficit/cost/poverty/emissions reduction
- risk/harm reduction
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- considerable
- great
- …
- achieve
- make
- secure
- …
- occur
- take place
- target
- through a/the reduction
- reduction by
- reduction from
- …
- a reduction in numbers
- a reduction in the amount of something
- a reduction in the number of something
- …
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [countable] an amount of money by which something is made cheaper
- price reductions
- reduction for somebody/something There are reductions for children sharing a room with two adults.
- reduction on something a sale with massive reductions on selected items
Extra ExamplesTopics Shoppingb2, Moneyb2- Guests staying 14 nights will receive a 10% reduction.
- I asked for a reduction as the dress was damaged.
- The gas company has announced price reductions for all customers.
- a 25% reduction on normal subscription rates
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- considerable
- great
- …
- achieve
- make
- secure
- …
- occur
- take place
- target
- through a/the reduction
- reduction by
- reduction from
- …
- a reduction in numbers
- a reduction in the amount of something
- a reduction in the number of something
- …
- [countable] a copy of a photograph, map, picture, etc. that is made smaller than the original one opposite enlargement
- [uncountable, countable] (chemistry) the fact of adding one or more electrons to a substance or of removing oxygen from a substance compare oxidation
- a sauce made by boiling a liquid until it becomes thick
- a red wine reduction
- a reduction of chicken stock, wine and cream
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting the action of bringing back): from Old French, or from Latin reductio(n-), from reducere ‘bring back, restore’, from re- ‘back, again’ + ducere ‘bring, lead’. The sense development was broadly similar to that of reduce; senses (1) and(2) date from the late 17th cent.
Check pronunciation:
reduction