deindex
C2Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
To remove something from an index or list, especially to remove a website from a search engine's index.
To formally or systematically disconnect or delist something from a structured database, catalog, or financial measure, often to reduce its visibility or adjust its status.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive verb. Often used in computing (SEO, search engines) and economics/finance (wages, pensions). Implies a deliberate, administrative action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in American English in tech/SEO contexts.
Connotations
Neutral to negative in tech (loss of visibility); neutral in finance (adjustment).
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but understood in professional domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] deindexed [Object] from [Index][Object] was deindexed by [Subject]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company decided to deindex employee salaries from the national inflation rate.
Academic
The study examined the effects when governments deindex welfare payments.
Everyday
[Rare in everyday conversation]
Technical
Google may deindex pages that violate its webmaster guidelines.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The webmaster had to deindex the compromised pages.
- The union protested the plan to deindex pensions.
American English
- Google can deindex spammy sites algorithmically.
- The policy seeks to deindex minimum wage from inflation.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival form. Use 'deindexed' as participle adjective: 'The deindexed page lost all traffic.']
American English
- [No standard adjectival form. Use 'deindexed' as participle adjective: 'Deindexed content is hard to find.']
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too advanced for A2]
- The website was deindexed by the search engine.
- To avoid penalties, you should deindex any duplicate content from your site.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE-tach from the INDEX. Like taking a book's page out of the library catalog.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS ERASURE FROM A LIST; VISIBILITY IS PRESENCE IN AN INDEX.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'разиндексировать'. Use 'удалить из индекса' or 'исключить из списка'.
- Do not confuse with 'проиндексировать' (to index) which is the opposite action.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'deindex' intransitively (e.g., 'The page deindexed'). It requires an object.
- Confusing with 'unindex' or 'non-indexed' (state vs. action).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'deindex' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common in SEO, it is also used in economics/finance to describe disconnecting payments (like wages or pensions) from an inflation index.
'Delist' is broader (remove from any list, e.g., stock exchange). 'Deindex' specifically implies removal from a systematic index used for retrieval or measurement.
No, it is not standard. The related noun is 'deindexing' (the process or action).
Relatively modern, gaining prominence with the rise of search engines and digital indexing in the late 20th/early 21st century.