What does "indication" mean?
An act of pointing out or indicating.
Indication
/ɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act of pointing out or indicating.
- Grammar: indication is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: sign, signal, adjective of evidence, adumbration.
- Useful contrasts: no sign, absence, contraindication.
- Usage evidence: His victory at this age in an international competition is a good indication of a bright future.
How to use "indication"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "indication" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "indication" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "indication" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "indication" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "indication" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "sign" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "indication", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act of pointing out or indicating. countable, uncountable
- 2 a datum about some physical state that is presented to a user by a meter or similar instrument wordnet
- 3 A fact that shows that something exists or may happen. countable, uncountable
"There's no indication that the fire was caused by criminals."
- 4 something (as a course of action) that is indicated as expedient or necessary wordnet
- 5 A mark or another symbol used to represent something. countable, rare, uncountable
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 something that serves to indicate or suggest wordnet
- 7 A discovery made; information. countable, uncountable
- 8 (medicine) a reason to prescribe a drug or perform a procedure wordnet
- 9 An explanation; a display. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"For the indication either proceeds from one experiment to another; or else from experiments to axioms; which axioms themselves suggest new experiments."
- 10 the act of indicating or pointing out by name wordnet
- 11 Any symptom or occurrence in a disease that serves to direct to suitable remedies; the problem that warrants and prompts the use of a diagnostic test, imaging mode, or treatment (e.g., medication, surgical procedure). countable, uncountable
"Influenza and suspected influenza are FDA-approved indications for oseltamivir."
- 12 A declared approximation of the price at which a traded security is likely to commence trading. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"His victory at this age in an international competition is a good indication of a bright future."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "indication"?
Common synonyms include: sign, signal, adjective of evidence, adumbration, angelophany, any evidence.
How do you use "indication" in a sentence?
His victory at this age in an international competition is a good indication of a bright future.
How do you pronounce "indication"?
Pronounced /ɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Old French indication, from Latin indicātiō (“a showing, indicating the value of something; valuation”), from indicō (“point out, indicate, show; value”); see indicate; compare French indication, Spanish indicación, Italian indicazione. By surface analysis, indicate + -ion.