What does indexed mean?
Indexed describes information that has been entered, listed, or arranged in an index. An index provides a guide to the location of particular items in a book, database, catalogue, or other collection, making that information easier to search and retrieve. The term is especially common in academic, archival, computing, and publishing contexts, including phrases such as "indexed database" and "fully indexed collection." It can also mean that a body of material has been supplied with an index, although this use is less frequent. The word is the past tense and past participle of the verb "index," so it may describe either the completed act of recording information or the resulting state. In general use, indexed conveys organization and accessibility rather than simply the existence of a list. The related noun is "index," and the process is commonly called "indexing."
Marked, listed, or classified in an index; arranged for easy retrieval.
"The collection is indexed by date and subject."
Common in academic, archival, publishing, and technical contexts.
To enter or classify something in an index, or to provide it with an index.
"The librarian indexed each manuscript by author and subject."
The past tense and past participle are "indexed."
An index turns a vast collection into a map: indexed information is not merely stored, but made findable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indexed come from?
The word comes from the English noun and verb "index," which was borrowed from Latin "index," meaning "pointer" or "indicator." The Latin word originally referred to the pointing finger, and by extension came to mean a list or guide indicating where information could be found. The English form developed into both the noun "index" and the verb "index," with "indexed" serving as the regular past tense and past participle.
Related word forms
How indexed is actually used
The adjective is common in academic, technical, and information-management contexts. It is usually used attributively, as in "indexed collection," and can suggest systematic organization or catalogue-based searching.
Easily confused with indexed
An index is the list or system itself, whereas indexed describes something that has been entered into an index.