Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Indication has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
something that serves to indicate or suggest
"an indication of foul play"
"indications of strain"
"symptoms are the prime indicants of disease"
the act of indicating or pointing out by name
"The doctor made a clear indication that he would be performing surgery later in the afternoon."
(medicine) a reason to prescribe a drug or perform a procedure
"the presence of bacterial infection was an indication for the use of antibiotics"
something (as a course of action) that is indicated as expedient or necessary
"there were indications that it was time to leave"
a datum about some physical state that is presented to a user by a meter or similar instrument
"he could not believe the meter reading"
"the barometer gave clear indications of an approaching storm"
Act of pointing out or indicating.
"His gesture was merely an indication that he wanted to leave the room."
In plain English: An indication is a sign that shows something might be true or happening soon.
"The dark clouds were an indication that rain was coming soon."
The word "indication" comes from Old French and Latin, where it originally meant a showing or the valuation of something. It entered English through these earlier languages to keep its meaning of pointing out or demonstrating value.