key word
noun
: a word that is a key: such as
a
usually keyword
: a significant word from a title or document used especially as an index to content
b
: a word exemplifying the meaning or value of a letter or symbol
Examples of key word in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And responsibility is the key word.
—
Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
That’s the key word with Jones.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
One of the key words that Castle uses is none other than efficiency.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Their strength lies in recognizing key words that signal action or reward, not in parsing the finer details of speech or grasping full sentences.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key word
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Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
That’s the key word with Jones.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
One of the key words that Castle uses is none other than efficiency.
—Dj Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Their strength lies in recognizing key words that signal action or reward, not in parsing the finer details of speech or grasping full sentences.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key word
Cite this Entry
“Key word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20word. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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