indicator

noun

in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce indicator (audio)
1
: one that indicates: such as
a
: an index hand (as on a dial) : pointer
(2)
: an instrument for automatically making a diagram that indicates the pressure in and volume of the working fluid of an engine throughout the cycle
2
: any of a group of statistical values (such as level of employment) that taken together give an indication of the health of the economy
3
a
: a substance (such as litmus) used to show visually (as by change of color) the condition of a solution with respect to the presence of a particular material (such as a free acid or alkali)
4
: an organism or ecological community so strictly associated with particular environmental conditions that its presence is indicative of the existence of these conditions
indicatory adjective

Examples of indicator in a Sentence

Economic indicators suggest that prices will go up. a control panel with various indicator lights
Recent Examples on the Web His advisers prefer a different indicator: Democrats have outpaced Mr. Biden’s low approval ratings to repeatedly win down-ballot races in 2022, 2023 and a variety of special elections. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Letter grades are a standardized indicator of school performance determined by the State Board of Education. Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 The economy is still waiting for rate hikes to kick in Interest rate hikes especially can be a reliable indicator of a possible recession, Shilling says. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 His job approval rating, normally a reliable indicator of an incumbent’s chances, is mired below 40%. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 As recently as 2018, a study of conference papers showed that a paper’s review score—meaning acceptance to top conferences—was a primary indicator of future citation count. IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2024 Children aged 13 to 17 could join you in the PreCheck lane if the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on their boarding pass. Harrison Pierce, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 Selected indicators included population growth projections, dependency on food imports, rural population statistics, agricultural capacity, and rates of child malnutrition. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The team then set out to compare the genetics of the green anaconda with other specimens elsewhere to assess them as an indicator species for the health of ecosystems, and warned that the Amazon is facing numerous threats. Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indicator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of indicator was in 1666

Dictionary Entries Near indicator

Cite this Entry

“Indicator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indicator. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

indicator

noun
in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər How to pronounce indicator (audio)
1
: one that indicates: as
a
: a pointer on a dial or scale
2
: a substance used to show visually (as by change of color) the presence of acid or base in a solution

Medical Definition

indicator

noun
in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər How to pronounce indicator (audio)
: a substance (as a dye) used to show visually (as by a change in color) the condition of a solution with respect to the presence of a particular material (as a free acid or alkali)
litmus and phenolphthalein are acid-base indicators

More from Merriam-Webster on indicator

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