keyword
B2Neutral to formal; widely used in academic, technical, and everyday digital contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A word of great significance or importance, especially one that encapsulates the main theme or idea.
In computing and digital contexts, a word used in information retrieval to index or categorize content; a search term; a reserved word in a programming language with a predefined meaning.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning has expanded from its original figurative/literary sense to a dominant technical one in computing. The plural 'keywords' is common in digital contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling is identical. British usage may retain the original literary sense slightly more, but both regions strongly associate it with computing.
Connotations
Neutral and functional in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties due to global digital culture.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keyword for (something)keyword in (a search/system)keyword related to (a topic)use/search with/enter + keywordVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly. Related: 'the key word' (in a statement or argument).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential in digital marketing for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and advertising campaigns.
Academic
Used to index research papers, library catalogs, and database searches.
Everyday
Common when discussing internet searches, online forms, or social media tags.
Technical
A fundamental concept in information retrieval, programming (reserved words), and database management.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The speaker emphasised several keywords in her lecture.
- You must include relevant keywords in your meta description for SEO.
- 'Class' is a keyword in Java programming.
American English
- Enter your keyword in the search bar.
- Our marketing team is analyzing keyword performance.
- The contract had a few keywords that needed clarification.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I typed the keyword 'weather' to find the forecast.
- What keyword did you use to find that video?
- For this assignment, please list five keywords related to climate change.
- The advertisement appears when people search for specific keywords.
- Effective keyword research is crucial for a successful content strategy.
- The programmer explained that 'void' is a reserved keyword in C++.
- The study's methodology involved a systematic analysis of keywords co-occurring in the corpus.
- His argument hinged on a deliberate misinterpretation of a key keyword in the policy document.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a KEY that unlocks a door. A KEYWORD unlocks information when you type it into a search box.
Conceptual Metaphor
A KEYWORD IS A KEY (to information). A KEYWORD IS A LABEL (for categorization).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'ключевое слово' in an English computing context—use the English term 'keyword'. The Russian phrase is a calque but the English lexical item is standard.
- Avoid confusing with 'password' (пароль).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'key word' (two words) in technical contexts (though 'key word' is possible in figurative use).
- Using it to mean 'password'.
- Overusing as a synonym for any important word.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'keyword' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern English, especially in computing and marketing, the single word 'keyword' is standard. The two-word form 'key word' is sometimes used in a general sense to mean 'a crucially important word'.
A keyword is a term used for searching or indexing content. A hashtag (like #travel) is a type of keyword preceded by a hash symbol, used primarily on social media to categorize posts and make them discoverable.
Not in standard usage. It is primarily a noun. The related action is 'to keyword' (assign keywords to something) in some technical fields, but 'tag' or 'index' are more common verbs.
Very similar. A 'keyword' is often a single, focused term chosen for its significance, while a 'search term' or 'query' can be a phrase or combination of words a user actually types into a search engine.