key signature

noun

: the sharps or flats placed after a clef in music to indicate the key

Examples of key signature in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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There was this notion that maybe humans are just really good at representing and extracting hierarchical structures, which of course are a key signature of language, but are also present in other domains like math and music and aspects of social cognition. Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2025 How to Spot a Real Designer Bag Various luxury brands have key signature features that can help verify a bag's authenticity. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 Here, just enough information is shared in advance — often just a key signature and tempo — to harmonize collaboration, sometimes accommodating guests. Steve Smith, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023 Most of the songs were sung a half-step down from their original key signature. Katie Reul, Variety, 18 Oct. 2022 Once the saxophone riff was added, the song was completely reworked around that, and nothing else but the tempo and key signature was retained. Katie Bain, Billboard, 1 July 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of key signature was in 1843

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Cite this Entry

“Key signature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20signature. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

key signature

noun
: the sharps or flats placed after a clef in music to indicate the key
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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