indicator

noun in·di·ca·tor \ ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of indicator

1 : one that indicates: such as

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

b (1) : gauge 2b, dial 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 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 4b

3 : an organism or ecological community so strictly associated with particular environmental conditions that its presence is indicative of the existence of these conditions

4 : any of a group of statistical values (such as level of employment) that taken together give an indication of the health of the economy

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indicatory

play \in-ˈdi-kə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

See indicator defined for English-language learners

See indicator defined for kids

Examples of indicator in a Sentence

Economic indicators suggest that prices will go up.
a control panel with various indicator lights

Recent Examples of indicator from the Web

The consumer-price index for wireless phone service, an indicator of current offers from cellphone service providers, ticked up 0.3% in June from a year earlier, according to the Labor Department, the first such increase since July 2016.

— sarah krouse, WSJ, "Cellphone Bills Go Up for First Time in Nearly Two Years," 13 July 2018
Pitch is the most effective indicator, according to Middleton.

— kevin davenport, idahostatesman, "Symphony of the salmon: How scientists are learning by putting fish migration to music," 9 July 2018
The flattening curve is one more indicator of a potential economic slowdown.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Is a flattening yield curve a sign of a coming recession?," 6 July 2018
The injunction ruling serves as the first legal test of California's sanctuary state law and an early indicator of the Trump administration's odds of winning the lawsuit.

— taryn luna, sacbee, "California beats Trump in sanctuary state battle's first round," 5 July 2018
The one-year Bjelica deal is another indicator that the Sixers are filling out their roster with shooting upgrades that will still leave them able to use max cap space next summer in another swing at big-name free agents.

— sarah todd, Philly.com, "Sixers to sign forward Nemanja Bjelica to one-year deal," 5 July 2018
Historically, Rock Lake has served mostly well-off families, but Rodriguez said that has changed in recent years, with 41 percent of his students now qualifying for the school lunch program, an indicator of family poverty.

— leslie postal, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida school grades: 5 takeaways from 2018 report card," 29 June 2018
The best way to determine what neurotoxin is present is to mix it with an indicator chemical.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Build Neurotoxin Detector From a Smartphone and Legos," 28 June 2018
Their death is a reliable shock, relatably distressing and an instant indicator of the bad guy’s abject badness, or the malevolent spirit’s abject malevolence.

— kelly conaboy, The Cut, "Hereditary’s Single Bit of Mercy," 25 June 2018

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

First Known Use of indicator

1666

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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indicator Synonyms

Synonyms

hand, index, needle, pointer;

Related Words

dial, face, gauge (also gage);

INDICATOR Defined for English Language Learners

indicator

noun

Definition of indicator for English Language Learners

: a sign that shows the condition or existence of something
: a pointer or light that shows the state or condition of something
: a device that shows a measurement

INDICATOR Defined for Kids

indicator

noun in·di·ca·tor \ ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər \

Definition of indicator for Students

1 : a sign that shows or suggests the condition or existence of something

2 : a pointer on a dial or scale

3 : ¹dial 3, gauge

Medical Dictionary

indicator

noun in·di·ca·tor \ ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər \

medical Definition of indicator

: 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)