master key

noun

1. a key that will open a number of different locks, the proper keys of which are not interchangeable.

master key

noun

1. Also called: pass key. a key that opens all the locks of a set, the individual keys of which are not interchangeable

Word History and Origins

Origin of master key¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

"As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will."

From BBC

The company claims he sold a “master key” for $350 that facilitated cheating across a range of games.

From Los Angeles Times

"As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products or services and we never will," Apple says on its website.

From BBC

"As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products, and we never will," a spokesperson told the BBC.

From BBC

Apple told the BBC in a statement that it had "never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products, and we never will".

From BBC