keyword

or key word

[ kee-wurd ]

noun

1. a word that serves as a key, as to the meaning of another word, a sentence, passage, or the like.
2. a word used to encipher or decipher a cryptogram, as a pattern for a transposition procedure or the basis for a complex substitution.
3. Also called catchword. Library Science. a significant or memorable word or term in the title, abstract, or text of a document or other item being indexed, used as the index entry.
4. Digital Technology. a word used to classify or organize digital content, or to facilitate an online search for information:

   Search the database for the keyword “Ireland.”

keyword

/ ˈkiːˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a word used as a key to a code
2. any significant word or phrase, esp a word used to describe the contents of a document

Word History and Origins

Origin of keyword¹

First recorded in 1855–60; key ¹ + word

Example Sentences

The 11 principles outlined above should go a long way in setting precise and effective keywords for your business.

From Search Engine Watch

Lead form extensions may be beneficial to certain industries or target keywords that are further down the funnel.

From Search Engine Land

Some brands find themselves bidding too much for keywords, ranking highly for a brief period but blowing through their marketing budget.

From Search Engine Watch

Use Google’s Keyword Planner to find local industry-relevant keywords.

From Search Engine Watch

“One thing I always recommend is doing regular searches in Google for the keywords you’re bidding on to see what Google is recommending, in terms of suggested keywords and making sure those align with your goals as an advertiser,” Henderson said.

From Search Engine Land

Angwin notes that keyword searches are increasingly tracked.

From The Daily Beast

When you send a tweet, Google a keyword, or stream a Netflix movie, you are harvesting what Shannon sowed.

From The Daily Beast

Their version of journalism is to focus on things like “keyword density” and search-engine optimization.

From The Daily Beast

The keyword to his political theory was not Pity nor Benevolence, but Justice.

From Project Gutenberg

The word with which you parted so lightly is the keyword of all life.

From Project Gutenberg

In the preparation of these talks, "Life" has been the keyword.

From Project Gutenberg

It was long after that nightly visit that John wrote his account of it, including the golden text whose keyword was Love.

From Project Gutenberg

No one in the world without his square of letters and without the keyword can read this message.

From Project Gutenberg