keychain
Americannoun
-
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
“Base game $80, expansion $100, but I’m sure they’ll launch something that’s 2x or 3x more expensive that will include a foldable poster of the map, keychain, etc.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
WSJ | Buy Side: Keep Kodak’s Charmera on your keychain and never miss a low-res moment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
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
He held an elastic keychain, wrapped around his wrist.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
Others used the materials to make keychains and wallets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Capybara merch is wildly popular in the zoo’s gift shops, which sell 25,000 capybara-themed items a year: almost 7,000 plush toys, plus keychains, backpacks, cups, caps, bottles, slippers, and lamps.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
A character that works can sell figurines, keychains, apparel, snacks, event tickets, and co-branded goods.
From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026
Lululemon Athletica Inc. is now selling heart-shaped charms, alligator clips, keychains and other accessories to complement its lines of yogawear and athleisure apparel.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 29, 2026
They passed out flyers, pamphlets—A Message from City Councilman John Kwang—buttons, ballpoint pens, keychains, lapel pins, every last piece of it stamped with his perfectly angled script, simply signed, John.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
