Indicator
noun
noun ·4 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A pointer or index that indicates something.
"The visual indicators are a decided improvement, and have reduced the telephoning by the staff in the signalbox."
- 2 a device for showing the operating condition of some system wordnet
- 3 A meter or gauge.
- 4 a number or ratio (a value on a scale of measurement) derived from a series of observed facts; can reveal relative changes as a function of time wordnet
- 5 The needle or dial on such a meter.
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 a signal for attracting attention wordnet
- 7 Any of many substances, such as litmus, used to indicate the concentration of a substance, or the degree of a reaction.
- 8 (chemistry) a substance that changes color to indicate the presence of some ion or substance; can be used to indicate the completion of a chemical reaction or (in medicine) to test for a particular reaction wordnet
- 9 A plant or animal whose presence is indicative of some specific environment.
- 10 A measure, such as unemployment rate, which can be used to predict economic trends.
- 11 A turn signal; each of the flashing lights on each side of a vehicle which indicate a turn is being made to left or right, or a lane change etc. Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, South-Africa, UK
- 12 A bird, the honeyguide.
- 13 A codeword that marks the use of a specific cryptic device.
"'Wild' is an anagram indicator showing that the letters of 'danger' have to be rearranged."
Example
More examples"Rank smells are a clear indicator that food should be thrown away."
Etymology
From Late Latin indicātor (“one who points out”), from Latin indicō (“point out”). By surface analysis, indicate + -or; see indicate.
Related phrases
More for "indicator"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.