indicator

noun

in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce indicator (audio)
Synonyms of indicator
1
: one that indicates: such as
a
: an index hand (as on a dial) : pointer
b(1)
: gauge sense 2b, dial sense 1a
(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 How to pronounce indicator (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of indicator

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rise lifted some components of the index into overbought territory, as measured by the relative strength index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the speed and size of price changes. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 Apart from being a lipstick indicator, the bedazzling craze is one more example of the younger generation’s obsession with the analog economy and consumer culture from over 20 years ago before technology owned their attention. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Expand the Arkansas Health Survey into THRIVE RADAR, an interactive rural health dashboard covering providers, telehealth, service gaps, workforce, broadband, transportation, health indicators, and geographic mapping. — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 One key indicator of soil health is decomposition rates of complex organic matter, breaking down stuff like leaves, wood, even cadavers into simpler organic and inorganic compounds, releasing C02 and nutrients in the process. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indicator

Word History

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of indicator was in 1666

Phrases Containing indicator

Rhymes for indicator

See All Rhymes for indicator

Browse Nearby Words

indicative
indicator
indicator card
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indicator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indicator. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

indicator

noun
in·​di·​ca·​tor ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər How to pronounce indicator (audio)
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 How to pronounce indicator (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on indicator

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about indicator

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of conscientious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All