indenture

[ in-den-cher ]
See synonyms for indenture on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a deed or agreement executed in two or more copies with edges correspondingly indented as a means of identification.

  2. any deed, written contract, or sealed agreement.

  1. a contract by which a person, as an apprentice, is bound to service.

  2. any official or formal list, certificate, etc., authenticated for use as a voucher or the like.

  3. the formal agreement between a group of bondholders and the debtor as to the terms of the debt.

verb (used with object),in·den·tured, in·den·tur·ing.
  1. to bind by indenture, as an apprentice.

  2. Archaic. to make a depression in; wrinkle; furrow.

Origin of indenture

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; a Middle English word from the Medieval Latin word indentūra; see indent1, -ure

Other words from indenture

  • in·den·ture·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use indenture in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for indenture

indenture

/ (ɪnˈdɛntʃə) /


noun
  1. any deed, contract, or sealed agreement between two or more parties

  2. (formerly) a deed drawn up in duplicate, each part having correspondingly indented edges for identification and security

  1. (often plural) a contract between an apprentice and his master

  2. a formal or official list or certificate authenticated for use as a voucher, etc

  3. a less common word for indentation

verb
  1. (intr) to enter into an agreement by indenture

  2. (tr) to bind (an apprentice, servant, etc) by indenture

  1. (tr) obsolete to indent or wrinkle

Derived forms of indenture

  • indentureship, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012