skeleton key
noun
plural skeleton keys
: a key with a large part of the bit filed away to enable it to open low quality locks as a master key
called also passkey
Examples of skeleton key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Check-in started with a calligraphy envelope reading my name and a vintage skeleton key to the Sarah Dutro suite.
—
Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
However, Porziņģis' size and long-range shooting ability are the skeleton key that makes Boston's 5-out offense so deadly.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
And researchers in the field don't expect E. coli, or any single microbe for that matter, to be the skeleton key for the surge in colorectal cancer.
—Will Stone, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Richardson moved into the starting lineup in early February and became the skeleton key of a team with very real Final Four dreams.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeleton key
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Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
However, Porziņģis' size and long-range shooting ability are the skeleton key that makes Boston's 5-out offense so deadly.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
And researchers in the field don't expect E. coli, or any single microbe for that matter, to be the skeleton key for the surge in colorectal cancer.
—Will Stone, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Richardson moved into the starting lineup in early February and became the skeleton key of a team with very real Final Four dreams.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeleton key
Cite this Entry
“Skeleton key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeleton%20key. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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