indentation

American  

[in-den-tey-shuhn] / ˌɪn dɛnˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a cut, notch, or deep recess.

   various bays and indentations.

2. a series of incisions or notches.

   the indentation of a maple leaf.

3. a notching or being notched.

4. indention.

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indentation British  

/ ˌɪndɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a hollowed, notched, or cut place, as on an edge or on a coastline

2. a series of hollows, notches, or cuts

3. the act of indenting or the condition of being indented

4. Also called: indention.   indent.  the leaving of space or the amount of space left between a margin and the start of an indented line

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indentation Cultural  

1. A space left between the left-hand margin of a line of type or handwriting and the beginning of a sentence or quotation. The beginning of a paragraph is usually indented.

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Etymology

Origin of indentation

First recorded in 1715–25; indent ¹ + -ation

Example Sentences

When the cell's receptors detect that the virus has attached, the membrane begins forming a small indentation at that spot.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2025

He finishes with special tools that carve out the metal and leave an indentation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

For air-fried burgers, flatten your patties as much as possible and press an indentation in the center to prevent them from puffing up.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2025

Drive through enough neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and you might notice an odd phenomenon: In front of some newer apartment and commercial buildings, the street is slightly wider, and the sidewalk meanders around the indentation.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2024

Roy flopped back into the flower bed, his head coming to rest in the same soft indentation.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen