deadbolt
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of deadbolt
Explanation
A deadbolt is a type of lock that you need a key to open. It's very common to have a deadbolt on an apartment door or the front door of a house. When you turn a key in the lock of a deadbolt, the bolt slides in or out of an opening in the door jamb. Deadbolts are considered to be secure locks that are difficult to open without a key, especially when compared to a spring-loaded lock, the kind you see in the center of a doorknob. While spring latches can be pushed back manually, deadbolts can't — which is why they're called deadbolts. They're dead, or unmovable.
Vocabulary lists containing deadbolt
"The Fast and the Fuel-Efficient" and "Teens Open Doors"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Sky at Our Feet
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
When I Was the Greatest
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
For the two months that federal agents have been conducting immigration raids in Minneapolis, Ana, Carlos and their son Luis have locked themselves in at home, feeling trapped behind their own deadbolt.
From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026
Why it's important: MFA is like having a deadbolt in addition to your regular lock.
From Salon • Aug. 27, 2024
The San Francisco-based nonprofit, which began operating the shelter in 2021, claimed it had painted the outside of the hotel and removed deadbolt locks, but no work was actually performed, officials said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2024
The company says the lock is compatible with most deadbolt locks, and it comes with three different-sized thumb turns to fit a variety of designs.
From The Verge • Jun. 15, 2022
Our back door has a captive double-cylinder nickel-silver deadbolt, but my dad has complained that the door frame isn’t thick enough.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
