keyword

or key word

[ kee-wurd ]

/ ˈkiˌwɜrd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for keyword on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

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.

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.”

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of keyword

First recorded in 1855–60; key¹ + word

Words nearby keyword

Keystone State, keystroke, key up, keyway, Key West, keyword, keyword indexing, keyword stuffing, key worker, kg, KGB

How to use keyword in a sentence

The 11 principles outlined above should go a long way in setting precise and effective keywords for your business.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research|Aayush Gupta|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Lead form extensions may be beneficial to certain industries or target keywords that are further down the funnel.
In-SERP lead forms convert Google Ads users without a click-through|Carolyn Lyden|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Land
Some brands find themselves bidding too much for keywords, ranking highly for a brief period but blowing through their marketing budget.
Smart Bidding: Five ways machine learning improves PPC advertising|Gabrielle Sadeh|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Use Google’s Keyword Planner to find local industry-relevant keywords.
A small business’ step-by-step guide to dominating local search in 2021|Joseph Dyson|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch

“One thing I always recommend is doing regular searches in Google for the keywords you’re bidding on to see what Google is recommending, in terms of suggested keywords and making sure those align with your goals as an advertiser,” Henderson said.
Google’s updated phrase match simplifies keywords and worries advertisers|George Nguyen|February 9, 2021|Search Engine Land
Angwin notes that keyword searches are increasingly tracked.
They Want to Know Everything About You|Jake Whitney|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When you send a tweet, Google a keyword, or stream a Netflix movie, you are harvesting what Shannon sowed.
Drowning in Beeps|Nicholas Carr|March 1, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Their version of journalism is to focus on things like “keyword density” and search-engine optimization.
AOL's Tricky HuffPo Marriage|Dan Lyons|February 7, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The keyword to his political theory was not Pity nor Benevolence, but Justice.
Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 2 of 3)|John Morley
The word with which you parted so lightly is the keyword of all life.
The Blue Flower, and Others|Henry van Dyke
In the preparation of these talks, "Life" has been the keyword.
Crayon and Character: Truth Made Clear Through Eye and Ear|B.J. Griswold
It was long after that nightly visit that John wrote his account of it, including the golden text whose keyword was Love.
A Life of St. John for the Young|George Ludington Weed
No one in the world without his square of letters and without the keyword can read this message.
Uncle Sam Detective|William Atherton Du Puy

British Dictionary definitions for keyword

keyword

/ (ˈkiːˌwɜːd) /

noun

a word used as a key to a code

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

keyword

or key word

Origin of keyword

Words nearby keyword

Words related to keyword

How to use keyword in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for keyword