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index number

B2
UK/ˈɪndɛks ˈnʌmbə/US/ˈɪndɛks ˈnʌmbər/

Formal to Neutral

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Definition

Meaning

A unique sequential identifier assigned to an item, document, or record for organization and retrieval, often used in lists, files, or series.

In statistics, a quantity (typically expressed as a ratio or percentage) that measures relative change in price, production, or other variables over time, with a base period as the reference point (e.g., Consumer Price Index number).

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The core sense relates to identification and ordering in administrative or technical systems. The statistical sense is a specialized application in economics and data analysis, where it represents an abstract measurement rather than a literal sequential identifier.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. Both varieties use the term identically. In administrative contexts, British English might more commonly use 'reference number' as a near-synonym.

Connotations

Neutral and technical in both varieties. The statistical sense carries academic/economics connotations.

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in British administrative contexts, but overall usage is comparable. The statistical sense is equally common in academic writing worldwide.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
unique index numberreference index numberCPI index numberstatistical index numberserial index numberassigned an index number
medium
find by index numberenter the index numberindex number systembase index numberprice index number
weak
important index numberspecific index numbercheck the index numberindex number listedcorrect index number

Grammar

Valency Patterns

have + index numberbe assigned + index numberrefer to + index numberlook up + by + index numbercalculate + an index number

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

identifierreference code

Neutral

reference numberID numberidentification numberserial number

Weak

codedesignationfiguredigit

Vocabulary

Antonyms

unidentifiedunnumberedanonymous entry

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “[No common idioms for this compound noun]”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Your customer account index number is required for all correspondence.

Academic

The Laspeyres price index number for the period was calculated at 112.4.

Everyday

You'll need the index number from your tax form to set up the online service.

Technical

Each node in the database is assigned a unique, non-repeating index number.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • All new specimens will be index-numbered upon receipt.
  • The clerk is index-numbering the backlog of files.

American English

  • The software automatically index-numbers each new entry.
  • We need to index-number these documents before archiving.

adverb

British English

  • [No standard adverbial use for 'index number']

American English

  • [No standard adverbial use for 'index number']

adjective

British English

  • The index-number sequence must not contain gaps.
  • Please use the index-number field on the form.

American English

  • We implemented a new index-number system.
  • Check the index-number assignment protocol.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • Write your index number at the top of the page.
  • My student card has an index number.
B1
  • You can track your application online using your unique index number.
  • The price index number rose by two percent last quarter.
B2
  • Each archaeological find was catalogued with a precise index number correlating to its location.
  • Economists analysed the shift in the industrial production index number.
C1
  • The researcher cross-referenced participants via anonymised index numbers to preserve confidentiality.
  • The composite index number, rebased to 100, revealed underlying inflationary pressures not apparent in the raw data.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a library INDEX that helps you find a book; an INDEX NUMBER is like the book's unique 'address' in that index system.

Conceptual Metaphor

AN IDENTITY IS A LABELLED POSITION IN A SEQUENCE; QUANTITATIVE CHANGE IS A MOVEMENT ALONG A SCALE.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not translate as 'индексный номер' (calque). Use 'индекс' for the statistical sense (e.g., индекс потребительских цен) and 'регистрационный номер', 'порядковый номер' or 'идентификационный номер' for the administrative sense.
  • Avoid confusing with 'number index', which implies an index *of* numbers rather than a number serving as an index.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'index number' to mean any number in an index (e.g., a page number).
  • Omitting 'number' and using 'index' alone when the sequential numeric identifier is meant (e.g., 'What is your file index?' – ambiguous).
  • Writing 'index-number' with a hyphen (standard spelling is two separate words).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
To retrieve the archived document, you must first locate its in the central register.
Multiple Choice

In an economic context, what does an 'index number' typically represent?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. An 'index' can be a list of topics with page references (non-numeric). 'Index number' specifies the numeric identifier within an indexing system, adding clarity.

A serial number usually implies a sequential order of manufacture or issue within a single product line. An index number is a broader term for any numeric identifier used for reference in a system, which may not be strictly sequential (e.g., it could be alphanumeric or have gaps).

Primary stress falls on 'In' of 'index' and on 'Num' of 'number'. In connected speech, the /k/ in 'index' often blends softly into the /n/ of 'number'.

Yes, but it's specialist and hyphenated (to index-number). It means 'to assign an index number to'. It's more common to use phrases like 'assign an index number to' in general contexts.