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Definition of indentation

indentation

/ˌɪn.dɛnˈteɪ.ʃən/
in · den · ta · tion
Plural:indentations
•
Adjective:indented
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indentation Lexical Profile

indentation Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A deep recess, notch, or hollow in a surface, edge, or coastline.

Example

"The heavy sofa legs left permanent indentations in the living room carpet."

2

The blank space left between a margin and the start of an indented line of text or computer code, or the act of setting text back from the margin.

Example

"Consistent indentation makes complex programming code much easier to read and debug."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for indentation

• Nearby Words

indemnify
indemnity
indent
indentation
indention
indenture
indentured

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French indentation or Medieval Latin indentatio, ultimately from Latin in- ('into') and dens ('tooth'), originally referring to the jagged, tooth-like notches cut along the edges of duplicate legal deeds to authenticate them.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Indentation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/indentation
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