keypad

noun

key·​pad ˈkē-ˌpad 

1

: a small set of keys that is part of a larger keyboard or another device (such as a telephone or calculator)

The keyboards of costly computers … usually have a separate numeric keypad in addition to the usual numerals in the top row of any keyboard.

—Consumer Reports

This lets you operate your centrally located audio/video gear from anywhere in the house, either by a handheld remote control or a keypad built into the wall.

—Video Review

2

: a small, usually numerical keyboard

Deactivate the alarm by punching a code into the keypad mounted inside the house.

Using a handheld keypad, the salesperson presses a three-digit code to find specific tracks. For example, "147" might be a segment with maintenance tips for the Cadillac diesel engine.

—Jane Wollman

Examples of keypad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to investigators with the Adams County Sheriff's Office, razor blades were glued to some fuel pumps just above the keypads where the skimming devices were found. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

The Yale Assure Lock 2 offers several ways to unlock, including a traditional keypad, voice assistance, or an auto-lock function. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026

It's got a large physical keypad, a small color screen, and a basic OS to handle calls, texts, and a few basic applications. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026

Then, Bustamante taps a code into a keypad on the wall and takes us into a room where the real magic happens. — Tomás Hill López-Menchero, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for keypad

• comrade
• dryad
• dyad
• forbad
• grandad
• granddad
• nomad
• notepad
• postgrad
• sinbad
• tetrad
• triad

Kids Definition

keypad

noun

key·​pad ˈkē-ˌpad 

: a small keyboard (as on a pocket calculator)