keychain

American

[kee-cheyn] / ˈkiˌtʃeɪn /

Or key chain

noun

a key ring with an attached ornament or other object, a short chain, or a leather or plastic loop, etc..

This great little light fits on my keychain and runs 150 hours on an ordinary watch battery.
a chain for carrying keys, often worn hanging from a belt.

We always knew when the school janitor was near, because he carried this massive keychain on his belt that jangled with every step.

Etymology

Origin of keychain

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With high-tech metal verification devices back-ordered online, Moorer relies on coin shops equipped with testing tools and carries a small magnet on his keychain to perform basic authenticity checks himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

And I couldn’t resist buying a KPop Demon Hunters keychain for a friend’s daughter.

From Barron's • Dec. 20, 2025

There are several iterations of Labubu - from vinyl figures to plush toys - but the keychain versions have become most popular recently.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2025

“When I realized, from the big silver keychain, that they were guards, I lightly brushed the chain.”

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2024

He held an elastic keychain, wrapped around his wrist.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023