indexation
C1Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The process of linking the value of something (like wages, taxes, or prices) to changes in a specified index, such as the rate of inflation.
1. The systematic linking of monetary values to an economic indicator. 2. In computing, the assignment of an index (a unique identifier) to data records for efficient retrieval. 3. In linguistics, the assignment of grammatical features (like person, number) to a word or phrase.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun in economics/finance, but can be countable when referring to specific instances or types of systems. The computational sense is less common in everyday language.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling of related verb is 'index' in both, but past tense/participle is more commonly 'indexed' in AmE, while 'indexed' and 'indiced' are both found historically in BrE, with 'indexed' now standard.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both. In political discourse, can imply either prudent economic management or a lack of wage/pension control.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK financial/EU policy contexts. In the US, 'COLA' (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) is a more common term for wage/pension indexation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
indexation of [something] to [an index]indexation to [the RPI/CPI]indexation against inflationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[something] is index-linked”
- “tied to the cost of living”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Company pensions often include indexation clauses to protect retirees from inflation.
Academic
The paper examines the macroeconomic effects of widespread wage indexation in the 1970s.
Everyday
My grandmother's state pension has indexation, so it increases slightly each year.
Technical
The database's performance improved after we applied indexation to the primary key field.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government has promised to index state pensions to average earnings.
- Benefits will be indexed against the Consumer Price Index.
American English
- The contract indexes annual salary increases to the CPI-U.
- The Treasury bonds are indexed to inflation.
adverb
British English
- Pensions are increased index-linked annually.
American English
- Salaries are adjusted index-wise each quarter.
adjective
British English
- She receives an index-linked annuity.
- The indexation mechanism is reviewed annually.
American English
- He has an inflation-indexed pension.
- The indexation formula is complex.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Indexation helps pensions keep their value.
- The union demanded full wage indexation to protect workers from rising prices.
- Without proper indexation, savings can lose real value over time.
- Economists debate whether automatic indexation of wages exacerbates inflationary spirals.
- The fiscal sustainability of the scheme depends on revising its indexation benchmark.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an INDEX finger pointing to a chart going UP. INDEXATION points monetary values to an index that goes up.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MOVING TARGET (that must be tracked and adjusted).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'индексация' in computing, which is 'indexing'. The economic term is also 'индексация'. Context is identical.
- Avoid translating as 'индексирование' – it's less common.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'indexation' to mean creating an index for a book (use 'indexing').
- Pronouncing it as /ɪnˈdɛk.seɪ.ʃən/ (stress is on 'sek', not 'dek').
- Treating it as a countable noun in all contexts (e.g., 'an indexation' is often awkward).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'indexation' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Indexation' almost always refers to the economic/financial linking process. 'Indexing' is the general act of creating an index (for a book, database, or economic measure).
No. The verb form is 'to index'. 'Indexation' is solely a noun.
It protects income or savings from inflation, which is good for recipients. However, economists argue it can sometimes make inflation harder to control if it becomes widespread and automatic.
COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment) is a very common near-synonym for wage/pension indexation, though it implies a periodic adjustment rather than a continuous link.