keyword

keyword — noun

1. A word or short phrase entered into a search website or database so the system c

1.nounA2
Definition

A word or short phrase entered into a search website or database so the system can find related content — for instance, typing "vegan ramen" into Google to see recipe results.

Example

Eitan typed "best hiking trails in Taiwan" as a keyword and found several useful websites.

keyword followed by full search phrase in quotes

To find academic papers, use specific keywords like "climate change" and "coral reefs" together.

collocation: use specific keywords

Common collocations
  • use + keyword(s)
  • keyword search
  • keyword tool
  • popular keywords
  • specific keywords
  • relevant keywords
  • search by keyword
  • keyword research
Synonyms
  • search term

    more specific to what a user actually types into a search box

  • query

    more technical; often refers to a full question or longer input sent to a database

Grammar Patterns

the keyword(s) for/in + [field]

keyword + noun (keyword search)

Usage Note

This sense is associated with digital search and information retrieval. The plural form keywords is extremely common when referring to multiple search terms. Keyword can also be used as a modifier in compounds such as keyword search, keyword tool, or keyword research.

Common Mistakes

Please keyword these documents so we can find them.
Please add keywords to these documents so we can find them.
'keyword' is a noun in standard English, not a verb.
I forgot my keyword for the login page.
I forgot my password for the login page.
'keyword' is a search term; 'password' is a secret code used to access an account.

2. An idea or term that is central to understanding a particular topic, discussion,

2.nounB2
Definition

An idea or term that is central to understanding a particular topic, discussion, or field of study — for example, "photosynthesis" is a keyword in biology classes.

Example

In the team meeting, "sustainability" was the keyword that appeared in every discussion.

metaphorical: the keyword that appeared in every discussion

Students must understand the keywords of each chapter before the exam.

collocation: understand the keywords of [a chapter]

Common collocations
  • keyword in + [topic/field]
  • understand the keyword(s)
  • the keyword is + [noun]
  • lesson keywords
  • bolded keywords
  • chapter keywords
Synonyms
  • key concept

    clearer synonym in academic contexts; less metaphorical

  • watchword

    more formal and political; implies a guiding principle

  • central idea

    broader; can be a full concept, not just a single word

Grammar Patterns

the keyword in + [context]

X is a keyword in Y

Usage Note

This sense is often used metaphorically to identify the most important word or idea in a situation. It frequently appears in the pattern the keyword is + noun (e.g., 'the keyword is patience') to emphasise a central theme. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 refers to a concrete search term entered into a computer, while sense 2 refers to an abstract concept that is central to understanding a subject.

Common Mistakes

The keyword to success is hard work.
The key to success is hard work.
'keyword' refers to a term or concept, not the solution or most important factor; use 'key' (noun) for that meaning.

Word family

  • key
    nounA1
  • key
    adjectiveA2
  • word
    nounA1
  • keywording
    nounC1
  • keyworded
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Keyword, search term, query, and tag are often used near each other in digital contexts, but they serve different functions. A keyword is the general term for any word or phrase a user types or a system uses to locate content; it is the broadest of the four. A search term is more specific — it refers strictly to what a user actually enters into a search box. A query is more technical and often refers to a longer string sent to a database, which may include operators (e.g., 'site:.gov climate data'). A tag is not something a user searches with; it is a label assigned to content by its author or by users for categorisation. For instance, you search by keyword or search term on Google, but you filter by tag on a blog.

search termquery ↗tag ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • keyword research
  • keyword density
  • keyword tool
  • keyword list

Adverbs

  • commonly used as
  • often searched as

Phrases

  • by keyword
  • under the keyword

Prepositions

  • keyword for [a topic]
  • keyword in [a field/discussion]

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Keyword is formed by combining key (from Old English cǣg, meaning 'a tool that opens or locks a door') with word (from Old English word, meaning 'a unit of language'). The compound carries the idea of a word that 'unlocks' understanding or access. The computing sense emerged in the mid-20th century as digital search and databases required a term for the word a user enters to unlock relevant information.