indicator.

1. Something that provides information about a condition, trend, or change.

2. A device that displays status, direction, or a measured value.

3. A substance whose visible change signals a chemical condition.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• economic indicator
• reliable indicator

On the page

Absence rates were used as an indicator of strain.

Usage notes

Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: Singular indicator; plural indicators. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: argumentation, evidence, inference. Commonness: moderately common.