indiction

I1N1D2I1C3T1I1O1N1
UK/ɪnˈdɪk.ʃən/

noun

A fiscal period of fifteen years, instituted by Constantine in 313 C.E. (but counting from 1st September 312), used throughout the Middle Ages as a way of dating events, documents etc.

OriginOld French indiction ← Latin indictiōnem →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounindiction (plural indictions)

plural indictions

  1. historicalA fiscal period of fifteen years, instituted by Constantine in 313 C.E. (but counting from 1st September 312), used throughout the Middle Ages as a way of dating events, documents etc.
  2. A declaration or official announcement.
  3. historicalThe decree made by Roman emperors which fixed the property tax for the next fifteen years.

Origin

  1. Latinindictiōnem
  2. Old Frenchindiction
  3. Englishindiction

From Old French indiction or its source, Latin indictiōnem, accusative singular of indictiō, from indicere.

More words from Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan indicció
  • indicciócycle of fifteen years
Dutch indictie
  • indictiecycle of fifteen years
French indiction
  • indictioncycle of fifteen years
German Indiktion
  • Indiktioncycle of fifteen years
Greek ινδικτιών
  • ινδικτιών (indiktión)cycle of fifteen years
Hungarian indikció
  • indikciócycle of fifteen years
Italian indizione
  • indizionecycle of fifteen years
Japanese インディクティオ
  • インディクティオ (indikutio)cycle of fifteen years
Portuguese indicção
  • indicçãocycle of fifteen years
Russian инди́кт, индиктио́н
  • инди́кт (indíkt)cycle of fifteen years
  • индиктио́н (indiktión)cycle of fifteen years
Spanish indicción
  • indiccióncycle of fifteen years

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with indiction

fictionjurisdictionaddictionrestrictionpredictionconvictionfrictioncontradictiondepictionevictionafflictiondictionconstrictionbenedictionderelictionmaledictionstictionstrictionabstrictionaffixionastrictioncondictionconflictioneffiction
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

indiction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indiction

MLA

“indiction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indiction. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “indiction,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/indiction.

Source: indiction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.