noun

keychain

KEE-chayn

Keychain (noun) means a small chain or ring used to hold keys together. Example: “His keychain jangled as he walked down the hall.”

noun

A small chain or ring used to hold keys together.

"His keychain jangled as he walked down the hall."

A decorative or novelty item attached to such a ring.

"She bought a tiny Eiffel Tower keychain as a souvenir."

A secure digital storage system for passwords and encryption keys on a computer or phone.

"The app saves your password to the device keychain."

How to use keychain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA ring or chain for holding keys, or (on phones/computers) a secure place where passwords are stored.

Common pairings

souvenir keychain save to keychain

Word forms

keychains plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “keychain” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

His _____ jangled as he walked down the hall.

Etymology

From "key" plus "chain", named for the physical ring that keeps keys together.

Rhymes for keychain

ain rain pain lain gain main vain fain bain Iain Jain Cain

See all rhymes for keychain →

Frequently asked questions

What does “keychain” mean?

The word “keychain” means a small chain or ring used to hold keys together. In plain terms, a ring or chain for holding keys, or (on phones/computers) a secure place where passwords are stored.

How do you pronounce “keychain”?

“Keychain” is pronounced KEE-chayn (/ˈkiːˌt͡ʃeɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “keychain” in a sentence?

Here is “keychain” used in a sentence: “His keychain jangled as he walked down the hall.”

What part of speech is “keychain”?

“Keychain” is a noun.

How many meanings does “keychain” have?

“Keychain” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small chain or ring used to hold keys together.