trigger word

British  

noun

1. a word that initiates a process or course of action

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Example Sentences

The word “plastic” — the trigger word in the film “The Graduate” — was too temptingly easy even for writers of large reputation.

From Los Angeles Times

Amazon says its Alexa products are designed to record as little as possible, starting with the trigger word, “Alexa,” and stopping when the user’s command ends.

From Reuters

Donna Burkland, who grew up in evangelical churches in Orange County, Calif., told the group that she thought the word “evangelical,” even if it were used as simply part of the term “post-evangelical,” could be a trigger word for some people.

From Washington Post

The word "socialism" has become a trigger word in U.S. politics, with both positive and negative perceptions of it split along party lines.

From Salon

For some communities, the word “agent” was a surefire way to eliminate that trust “If they said, ‘I’m a contact tracing agent, or something that used agent — that’s a trigger word for undocumented people, or people of color,” says Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer at Partners In Health.

From The Verge