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.

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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 Starter includes core VPN features such as ad blocking, split tunneling, a kill switch and MultiHop, and is priced at $15.45/month, $3.19/month for the one-year plan and $1.99/month for the two-year plan.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

As was the case with ExpressVPN, in-tunnel DNS and the kill switch will prevent any data leaks, even if your VPN connection should unexpectedly drop.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Both providers include a kill switch, which blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Kabuo hit the kill switch beside the wheel.

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