indenture

1 of 2

noun

in·​den·​ture in-ˈden-chər 

1

a(1)

: a document or a section of a document that is indented

(2)

: a formal or official document usually executed in two or more copies

(3)

: a contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time

—often used in plural

b

: a formal certificate (such as an inventory or voucher) prepared for purposes of control

c

: a document stating the terms under which a security (such as a bond) is issued

2

: indentation sense 2

3

[indent entry 3] : dent

indenture

2 of 2

verb

indentured; indenturing in-ˈden-ch(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to bind (someone, such as an apprentice) by or as if by indentures

Synonyms

Noun

• cavity
• concavity
• dent
• depression
• dint
• hole
• hollow
• indentation
• pit
• recess

Examples of indenture in a Sentence

Noun

the dropped hammer left an indenture in the floor

made a small indenture to mark the spot where the plank was to be sawed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a little over a year, my three-decade indenture as a full-time laundress will come to an end. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024

This smashes every indenture that binds a Negro child other than as a white child should be bound! —Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023

Verb

Families that manage to collect the ransom money frequently do so by selling or mortgaging their few possessions, indenturing family members, or worse. —Bruno Stagno-Ugarte, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2015

He was indentured to pirates until his 21st birthday but was born Feb. 29, so he was stuck with them for 84 years! —Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English endenture, from Anglo-French, from endenter

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1676, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

indenture

1 of 2 noun

in·​den·​ture in-ˈden-chər 

1

: a written agreement : contract

2

: a contract by which one person is made to work for another for a stated period

—often used in plural

indenture

2 of 2 verb

indentured; indenturing

: to bind by indentures

indenture an apprentice

Legal Definition

indenture

noun

in·​den·​ture in-ˈden-chər 

1

: a document stating the terms under which a security (as a debenture or other bond) is issued

specifically, in bankruptcy law : a document (as a mortgage or deed of trust) under which there is outstanding security constituting a claim against a debtor, a claim secured by a lien on any of the debtor's property, or an equity security of the debtor

2

: a deed or other document to which two or more parties (as both grantor and grantee) are bound

Etymology

Noun

Old French endenture an indented document, from endenter to indent (divide a document into sections with irregular edges that can be matched for authentication), from en- thoroughly + dent tooth