TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
INDICATOR MALFUNCTION [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2017-06-12
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Electrical Equipment (Motor Vehicles)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- malfunction indicator lamp
1, record 1, English, malfunction%20indicator%20lamp
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
- MIL 1, record 1, English, MIL
correct
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- malfunction tell-tale 2, record 1, English, malfunction%20tell%2Dtale
correct
- warning light 3, record 1, English, warning%20light
correct
- tell-tale 4, record 1, English, tell%2Dtale
correct
- indicator light 5, record 1, English, indicator%20light
correct
- idiot light 6, record 1, English, idiot%20light
see observation, Canada, United States, familiar
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
An indicator of the status or malfunction of a system within a motor vehicle. 6, record 1, English, - malfunction%20indicator%20lamp
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A tell-tale consists of a light bulb or a LED which lights up a symbol or text legend. ... Different tell-tales can convey different kinds of information. 6, record 1, English, - malfunction%20indicator%20lamp
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
idiot light: This colloquial term reflects people’s frustration with car problems detected by tell-tales only once a fault has already occurred. 7, record 1, English, - malfunction%20indicator%20lamp
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
warning light: term officially approved by the Lexicon Project Committee (New Brunswick). 7, record 1, English, - malfunction%20indicator%20lamp
Record 1, Key term(s)
- malfunction telltale
- telltale
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Équipement électrique (Véhicules automobiles)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- témoin de défaillance
1, record 1, French, t%C3%A9moin%20de%20d%C3%A9faillance
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- témoin d'autodiagnostic 2, record 1, French, t%C3%A9moin%20d%27autodiagnostic
correct, masculine noun
- indicateur de dysfonctionnement 3, record 1, French, indicateur%20de%20dysfonctionnement
correct, masculine noun
- voyant 4, record 1, French, voyant
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
- témoin lumineux 5, record 1, French, t%C3%A9moin%20lumineux
correct, masculine noun
- témoin 4, record 1, French, t%C3%A9moin
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
- lampe témoin 6, record 1, French, lampe%20t%C3%A9moin
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[...] indicateur visuel qui informe clairement le conducteur du véhicule de tout dysfonctionnement [...] 1, record 1, French, - t%C3%A9moin%20de%20d%C3%A9faillance
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
voyant, témoin, lampe témoin : termes uniformisés par le Comité du projet de lexiques (Nouveau-Brunswick). 7, record 1, French, - t%C3%A9moin%20de%20d%C3%A9faillance
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Equipo eléctrico (Vehículos automotores)
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- testigo luminoso
1, record 1, Spanish, testigo%20luminoso
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
- indicador de aviso 2, record 1, Spanish, indicador%20de%20aviso
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - external organization data 2008-04-10
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Nuclear Plant Safety
- Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- malfunction of indicator 1, record 2, English, malfunction%20of%20indicator
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Candidates are expected to identify any other malfunction of indicator, equipment, component or control device that occurred while performing their diagnosis, including failure of any major automatic action. 1, record 2, English, - malfunction%20of%20indicator
Record 2, Key term(s)
- indicator malfunction
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Sûreté des centrales nucléaires
- Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- défectuosité d'un indicateur
1, record 2, French, d%C3%A9fectuosit%C3%A9%20d%27un%20indicateur
feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les candidats sont censés indiquer toute autre défectuosité d'un indicateur, d'une pièce d'équipement, d'un élément ou d'un dispositif de commande d'un système survenue pendant qu'ils effectuaient leur diagnostic, y compris toute panne d'une action automatique majeure. 1, record 2, French, - d%C3%A9fectuosit%C3%A9%20d%27un%20indicateur
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 1986-10-02
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Aeroindustry
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- test pattern
1, record 3, English, test%20pattern
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Test pattern : Selection of the TEST mode energizes test circuits to produce a specific pattern on the indicator. Reference to this test pattern provides a means of adjusting the trace adjust and erase rate controls and also provides a system self check if malfunction is suspected. The test pattern is simply a display of artificial signals that have been internally processed to confirm normal operation over the complete operating range of the system. 2, record 3, English, - test%20pattern
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Constructions aéronautiques
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- mire
1, record 3, French, mire
feminine noun, officially approved
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
(CRT). 2, record 3, French, - mire
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Terme uniformisé par le CUTA opérations aériennes. 3, record 3, French, - mire
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


