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

The experiment produced nanophase iron, tiny metallic particles that are widely observed in lunar soil and are considered a key signature of space weathering. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026

In musical terms, values are the key signature. — Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 18 Feb. 2026

And then there’s his fascinating key signatures, and chord changes, and the influence of Brazilian bossa nova. — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

key signature

noun

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