a guess that you make or an opinion that you form based on the information that you have

They were warned to expect a heavy air attack and by inference many casualties. 他们被警告可能会受到严厉的空中打击，由此推断会有许多人员伤亡。

His change of mind was recent and sudden, the inference being that someone had persuaded him. 他最近突然改变了主意，估计是有人说服了他。