index fund

American  

noun

1. a fund, as a mutual fund or pension fund, with a portfolio that contains many of the securities listed in a major stock index in order to match the performance of the stock market generally.

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Etymology

Origin of index fund

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

index fund

An index fund, most likely, or a series of them — running from tech-heavy funds through various sectors, down to Treasury bond funds or CDs on the safe side.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

Around that same time, Jack Bogle was trying to launch the first index fund and could not get any backing on Wall Street.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

If those Apple shares are 20% of your invested assets, but you also own an S&P 500 index fund, you’re out of luck.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

By law, the money must be invested in a low-cost index fund designed for long-term growth.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

Of course, if you already own a broadly diversified index fund, you’re assured of capturing the return of the overall stock market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026