Standard Lemma guide

indenture

noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ɪnˈdɛn.ʃɝ/
  • Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N D EH1 N CH ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A contract relating to lending (typically for issuing a bond), a real estate transaction, or a bankruptcy that imposes additional conditions on one or both parties.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying either of the above contracts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: in-plural, often

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An indentation; a recess.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To bind a person under such a contract.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Though age may creep on, and indenture the brow.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

the space left between the margin and the start of an indented line

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indentation, indention, indent

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: space, blank space, place

8

noun

Meaning 8

a contract binding one party into the service of another for a specified term

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: contract

9

noun

Meaning 9

formal agreement between the issuer of bonds and the bondholders as to terms of the debt

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: written agreement

10

noun

Meaning 10

a concave cut into a surface or edge (as in a coastline)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indentation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: concave shape, concavity, incurvation, incurvature

Narrower terms: notch, cleft

11

verb

Meaning 11

bind by or as if by indentures, as of an apprentice or servant

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an indentured servant

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: indent

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: oblige, bind, hold, obligate

History

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman endenture, from Old French endenteure, from endenter (“to dent”). The name of the contract derives from the irregular dent-shaped cut (indentation) used to prove the authenticity of the two parts, similar to a chirograph.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: kontrakt — contract
  • Dutch: leercontract — contract
  • Finnish: oppisopimus — contract
  • Galician: contrato — contract
  • German: Vertrag — contract
  • German: Ausbildungsvertrag — contract
  • German: Arbeitsvertrag — contract
  • German: Lehrbrief — contract
  • German: Kontrakt — contract
  • Norwegian: lærekontrakt — contract
  • Norwegian: lærlingekontrakt — contract
  • Norwegian: arbeidskontrakt — contract
  • Russian: кабала (kabala) — contract
  • Spanish: contrato de trabajo no remunerado — contract
  • Spanish: esclavitud temporánea — contract
Real reading context

indenture in complete knowledge articles