Deindexing
01 Definition
Deindexing meaning: Removing pages from a search engine's index so they no longer appear in results.
Deindexing is the removal of URLs from a search engine's index so they stop showing in results. It can be intentional, using a noindex tag or removal request, or unintentional, when errors cause pages to drop. Once deindexed, a page cannot rank until it is indexed again.
Also called
Why it matters
How Deindexing fits the work
Deindexing lets you keep low-value or sensitive pages out of search, and spotting unintended deindexing quickly protects traffic to pages that should be visible.
In context
After a bad deployment added a site-wide noindex tag, the site was deindexed within days and organic traffic fell sharply until the tag was removed.
Practical note
A noindex tag must stay crawlable to take effect; blocking the page in robots.txt can prevent the engine from ever seeing the noindex. Removal via Search Console is often temporary.