indicator
noun
in·di·ca·tor
ˈin-də-ˌkā-tər 
1
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
4
: an organism or ecological community so strictly associated with particular environmental conditions that its presence is indicative of the existence of these conditions
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
But Burke, with the mining association, pointed to two recent positive indicators for the industry: more U.S. coal getting exported overseas and a surge in the amount of electricity generated by burning coal during the first four months of 2025 compared with the same period last year.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Mellinger now worries the department will not be able to meet its five-year goals for key performance indicators, which measure progress on the county’s biggest public health challenges.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Data Despite the rising concern, labor market indicators have shown relative strength in recent months.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
The last six matches between these sides are a good indicator of how little there is to separate the teams.
—Darren Richman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for indicator
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Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Mellinger now worries the department will not be able to meet its five-year goals for key performance indicators, which measure progress on the county’s biggest public health challenges.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Data Despite the rising concern, labor market indicators have shown relative strength in recent months.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
The last six matches between these sides are a good indicator of how little there is to separate the teams.
—Darren Richman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for indicator
Cite this Entry
“Indicator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indicator. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
indicator
noun
in·di·ca·tor
ˈin-də-ˌkāt-ər
1
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
: 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
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