kill switch
Americannoun
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a button, switch, or other mechanism that allows a machine to be shut down immediately.
Only use the kill switch in emergencies.
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By cycling the kill switch mounted in the right lazarette, I was able to get the motor started and running for a few seconds at a time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
When Smith raised the idea of an ability to “slow it down or turn it off,” Alan confirmed he meant a kill switch for AI and then asked, “You think that’s a good idea?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic, told BBC that a "kill switch" that can be checked by a third party may need to be mandatory for the industry.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark later told the BBC that a "kill switch" controlled by a third party may need to be mandatory for the industry.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Kabuo hit the kill switch beside the wheel.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
