indenture

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noun in·den·ture \in-ˈden-chər\

Definition of indenture

1a (1) : a document or a section of a document that is indented (2) : a formal or official document usually executed in two or more copies (3) : a contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time —often used in pluralb : a formal certificate (such as an inventory or voucher) prepared for purposes of controlc : a document stating the terms under which a security (such as a bond) is issued
2 : indentation 1
3 [³indent] : dent

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Examples of indenture in a Sentence

the dropped hammer left an indenture in the floor
made a small indenture to mark the spot where the plank was to be sawed

Recent Examples of indenture from the Web

Those documents, known as indentures, set initial interest rates of 6.39 percent on the $275 million loan and 6.41 percent on the $112 million loan through July 2.

— juan perez jr., chicagotribune.com, "$70,000 a day in interest — the cost of another short-term CPS budget solution", 27 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indenture'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of indenture

Middle English endenture, from Anglo-French, from endenter

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

indenture

verb in·den·ture

Definition of indenture

indentured

;

indenturing

play \in-ˈden-ch(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb
: to bind (someone, such as an apprentice) by or as if by indentures

Recent Examples of indenture from the Web

Though baseball’s reserve clause left that era’s players indentured to team owners, Mr. Bunning was never afraid to speak out.

— frank fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "Hall of Fame Phillies pitcher, former U.S. Senator Jim Bunning dies at 85", 27 May 2017
The Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta centers around Frederic, a 21-year old man who has been indentured to pirates until his 21st birthday.

— sue ellen ross, Post-Tribune, "'Pirates' come ashore for Munster Theatre Co.", 1 May 2017

First Known Use of indenture

1676

Law Dictionary

indenture

play

noun in·den·ture \in-ˈden-chər\

Legal Definition of indenture

1 : a document stating the terms under which a security (as a debenture or other bond) is issued; specifically in bankruptcy law : a document (as a mortgage or deed of trust) under which there is outstanding security constituting a claim against a debtor, a claim secured by a lien on any of the debtor's property, or an equity security of the debtor
2 : a deed or other document to which two or more parties (as both grantor and grantee) are bound

Origin and Etymology of indenture

Old French endenture an indented document, from endenter to indent (divide a document into sections with irregular edges that can be matched for authentication), from en- thoroughly + dent tooth