indicator

noun

in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər 

1

: one that indicates: such as

a

: an index hand (as on a dial) : pointer

b(1)

: gauge sense 2b, dial sense 4a

(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)

b

: tracer sense 4b

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

in-ˈdi-kə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms

• hand
• index
• needle
• pointer

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

So don’t rely on bloom alone as an indicator of freshness. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 23 Apr. 2024

Instead, Netflix would prefer that the market judge its business based on metrics including sales and free cash flow (a measure of profitability), which is a better indicator of the company’s overall health. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024

Experts saw the results of the voting Sunday as an indicator of how strongly the public supported Mr. Noboa’s stance on crime. —Genevieve Glatsky, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024

How the right-hander performs during the next months could be a big indicator if the team can overcome their slow start. —Joey Pollizzee, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2024

While some health indicators for Indian women have improved, their labor participation rate fell steadily from 39 percent as recently as 2000 to a low of 24.5 percent in 2019, before spiking in 2022 to 33 percent, according to the International Labor Organization. —Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

Now, past performance is no indicator of future results, as the old legal disclaimer goes. —David Baldacci, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024

The presence of additives is a key indicator of whether a food is ultraprocessed, said Carlos Monteiro, emeritus professor at the school of public health at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. —Parija Kavilanz and Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

While cicadas may indeed be more noticeable before monsoon rain, their behavior is not a reliable indicator of impending weather conditions. —The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing indicator

• plan position indicator

Kids Definition

indicator

noun

in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər 

1

: one that indicates: as

a

: a pointer on a dial or scale

b

: gauge entry 1 sense 2a

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 

: 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