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
Consumer ReportsThis 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
Video Review2
: 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
Jane WollmanExamples of keypad in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Texting has produced a substantial vocabulary of acronyms and shorthand expressions, many of which date to when cellphones had numeric keypads, or at least to when messages were restricted to a hundred and sixty characters.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The eight-piece system includes a base station, a keypad for arming and disarming your system, a motion detector, a panic button, and four entry sensors that can be placed on doors and windows.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
This genius keypad has a wide-angled camera that provides a comprehensive view of your garage area—from driveway to doorway—directly to your phone.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2025
The highlight is the 4200 Series with built-in Wi-Fi, app controls, and a classic profile, perfectly suited for those who prefer a physical push-button keypad.
—William Jones, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
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Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The eight-piece system includes a base station, a keypad for arming and disarming your system, a motion detector, a panic button, and four entry sensors that can be placed on doors and windows.
—PC Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
This genius keypad has a wide-angled camera that provides a comprehensive view of your garage area—from driveway to doorway—directly to your phone.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2025
The highlight is the 4200 Series with built-in Wi-Fi, app controls, and a classic profile, perfectly suited for those who prefer a physical push-button keypad.
—William Jones, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keypad
Cite this Entry
“Keypad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keypad. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
keypad
noun
key·pad
ˈkē-ˌpad 
: a small keyboard (as on a pocket calculator)
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