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noun Uncommon

keyword

KEE-wurd

Keyword (noun) means an important word used to represent or search for a topic, especially online. Example: “She used the keyword "budget travel" to find cheap flight deals.”

noun
1
An important word used to represent or search for a topic, especially online.
"She used the keyword "budget travel" to find cheap flight deals."
2
A reserved word in a programming language that has a special, predefined meaning.
"In many languages, "if" and "while" are keywords you can't use as variable names."
verb
1
To label content with searchable terms.
"The blog posts are keyworded to improve search rankings."

How to use keyword

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA significant word used to search for, tag, or summarise information.

Common pairings
keyword search target keywords keyword density

Word forms

keyworded past tense, keywords plural, keywords singular

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She used the _____ "budget travel" to find cheap flight deals.

Etymology

From "key" (in the sense of something that unlocks access) plus "word".

Frequently asked questions

What does “keyword” mean?

The word “keyword” means an important word used to represent or search for a topic, especially online. In plain terms, a significant word used to search for, tag, or summarise information.

How do you pronounce “keyword”?

“Keyword” is pronounced KEE-wurd (/ˈki.wɝd/ in IPA).

How do you use “keyword” in a sentence?

Here is “keyword” used in a sentence: “She used the keyword "budget travel" to find cheap flight deals.”

What part of speech is “keyword”?

Depending on how it is used, “keyword” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “keyword” a common word?

“Keyword” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “keyword” have?

“Keyword” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an important word used to represent or search for a topic, especially online.

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