key word

Other forms: key words

A key word is a term that can help you find information about a specific topic. If you're researching pollinators, you might search online using key words like "butterfly" and "honeybee."

Whether you're just curious about a subject or doing serious research for school, key words are essential for getting the information you need. An internet search is most effective if you zero in on these essential terms. And if you use scholarly books for your research, you'll also find key words listed alphabetically in an index at the back. The original meaning of key word was "word used to solve a code or cipher."

Definitions of key word

1. noun

   a significant word used in indexing or cataloging
   type of:

   word

   a unit of language that native speakers can identify
2. noun

   a word that is used as a pattern to decode an encrypted message
   type of:

   key

   a list of words or phrases that explain symbols or abbreviations