indentation

[ in-den-tey-shuhn ]

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 ( defs 1, 2 ).

indentation

/ 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 calledindentionindent the leaving of space or the amount of space left between a margin and the start of an indented line

indentation

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of indentation¹

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

Example Sentences

If needed, dig a shallow indentation in your yard to place the water vessel into.

From Popular-Science

I still feel like I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to intensified living — far, far away from that indentation on my couch.

From Washington Post

I had spent so much time on the couch, I was pretty sure I could make out an indentation shaped like me.

From Washington Post

CSS is by default a very minimalist language and can operate perfectly well without spaces, indentation, comments, and other text that makes it more user-friendly and easier to develop.

From Search Engine Watch

Morsell is expected to miss one to two weeks, a reassuring outlook after he left the Terrapins’ game against Michigan on Thursday with a visible indentation near his left temple.

From Washington Post

Traveling there, he noticed an indentation in the ground that had been cleared.

From The Daily Beast

Puget Sound, with its numerous inlets, is a deep indentation of the Pacific coast, one hundred miles north of the Columbia.

From Project Gutenberg

Spelling, hyphenation, punctuation, and indentation inconsistencies have been retained from the original book.

From Project Gutenberg

The lines of indentation made by the two prongs of the pen will be evident, as in the real signature.

From Project Gutenberg

Pointing out a small indentation in the coast, he urged us to confide in him, and he would guarantee us a peaceful night.

From Project Gutenberg

Removing his hat, Julian Jones guided my finger tips through his thatch of sandy hair until they sank into an indentation.

From Project Gutenberg