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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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hence the one-year timeline for a kill switch should the bubble burst sooner than the stakeholders anticipate.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

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

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

NordVPN includes a customizable kill switch, allowing users to block internet access entirely or restrict only specific apps if the VPN connection drops.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

It also provides a kill switch that you can enable from the app’s settings.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Kabuo hit the kill switch beside the wheel.

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

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.