kill switch

American  

[kil swich] / ˈkɪl ˌswɪtʃ /

noun

1. a button, switch, or other mechanism that allows a machine to be shut down immediately.

   Only use the kill switch in emergencies.

2. Digital Technology. a command deployed to remotely lock, disable, or wipe an electronic device, as when the device is lost or stolen.

---

Etymology

Origin of kill switch

First recorded in 1950–60

Example Sentences

The agent managed to rewrite its own code to avoid the kill switch, then posted about the blocking.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Surfshark includes a reliable kill switch that blocks traffic if the VPN disconnects, and, like NordVPN, it uses RAM-only servers and offers DNS leak protection.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Its in-tunnel DNS and kill switch should prevent any leaks, even unattended.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

"Why can't they have a kill switch so a stolen phone can't be used? Why can't they stop somebody having access to a cloud so a phone that's stolen is not reset and reused?"

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Kabuo hit the kill switch beside the wheel.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson