keyword

American  

[kee-wurd] / ˈkiˌwɜrd /

Or key word

noun

1. a word that serves as a key, as to the meaning of another word, a sentence, passage, or the like.

2. a word used to encipher or decipher a cryptogram, as a pattern for a transposition procedure or the basis for a complex substitution.

3. Also called catchword.  Library Science. a significant or memorable word or term in the title, abstract, or text of a document or other item being indexed, used as the index entry.

4. Digital Technology. a word used to classify or organize digital content, or to facilitate an online search for information.

   Search the database for the keyword “Ireland.”

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keyword British  

/ ˈkiːˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a word used as a key to a code

2. any significant word or phrase, esp a word used to describe the contents of a document

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Etymology

Origin of keyword

First recorded in 1855–60; key ¹ + word

Example Sentences

"It's almost the same as with exams at school - you learn to answer the question to get the marks. In the same way people are keyword stuffing their CVs to get past AI screeners, they'll be keyword stuffing those AI screening calls. There'll be people on TikTok talking about how to hack your way through a first round AI interview," Ms Miller predicts.

From BBC

“Resilience was the keyword in 2025 for European growth,” Citi economists say in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company said at the time it had "strengthened its keyword blacklist to further prevent attempted circumvention of product listing restrictions by sellers".

From BBC

"The company has also strengthened its keyword blacklist to further prevent attempted circumvention of product listing restrictions by sellers," said Shein.

From BBC

With the help of social media, stories that had mostly been limited to neighbourhood gossip now make for viral "pelakor" content, a slang term for homewrecker and an oft-used keyword in videos of wives confronting their husbands' mistresses.

From BBC