What does indention mean?
Indention is a noun meaning an indentation: a deliberate space or recessed position, most often created in written text by moving a line or passage inward from the margin. The term can describe the action of indenting as well as the resulting space, and it may also refer to a shallow recess in a physical surface. “Indention” is a chiefly American variant of the more common spelling “indentation,” which is standard in both American and British English. In publishing, office software, and academic formatting, first-line and hanging indentations help organize lists, quotations, and passages without changing the wording themselves. Outside typography, the word is less frequent, and “indent” is often more natural when the action is being described. The spelling is therefore recognizable and precise but relatively uncommon in contemporary prose.
nounIndention is the action or result of indenting, especially the insertion of spaces in a text to create a visible indentation. It is a less common American spelling of “indentation.”
- The insertion of space in a text to set off a line or passage.
- An indented position or recessed area, especially in a surface or document.
"The first-line indention gives the paragraph a clean, professional appearance."
"Increase the indention of the list so that each level is easy to distinguish."
"The tool made a shallow indention in the metal before the panel was bent."
The plural is rarely needed in modern usage because “indentations” is the more common form.
"Several indentions in the form distinguish the nested answers."
Indention is the less common American spelling of indentation, the same typographic practice that gives paragraphs their distinctive first-line space.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indention come from?
The word developed from “indent,” which comes ultimately from Latin indentare, meaning “to notch” or “to cut into,” and entered English through French. Adding the suffix “-ion” produced the noun “indention,” later also written “indentation.” Related English words include “indent,” “indentation,” and “indebted,” all reflecting the same Latin root associated with a marked or notched indentation.
Related word forms
How indention is actually used
The spelling is uncommon and is encountered mainly in American English, particularly in discussion of typography, word processing, and text formatting. “Indentation” is more widely used and is preferred in formal and international contexts.
Easily confused with indention
“Indention” is an uncommon American spelling of “indentation,” while “indentation” is the standard spelling in both British and American English.
“Indent” is generally used as a verb meaning to move text or an object inward, whereas “indention” is the noun for the resulting space or indentation.