the process of gradually narrowing down or filtering a large set of items, ideas, or options to focus on the most relevant or valuable ones. Originally a farming term describing how grain is separated from chaff, it is now widely used in research, decision-making, and evaluation to describe systematically eliminating less suitable elements so only the best or most appropriate remain.
Synonyms: Filtering, Screening, Narrowing, Sifting, Trimming Down
Example
In developing a new survey, researchers start with 150 possible questions. Through winnowing, they test for clarity, relevance, and redundancy, and reduce the list to 25 high-quality questions that best measure the intended outcomes.