Keyword: meaning, definitions and examples

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keyword

 

[ ˈkiːwɜːd ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

term

A word or concept of great significance.

Synonyms

essential term, key concept, main idea.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
keyword

This term is often used in search engine optimization (SEO) or digital marketing to describe important words or phrases that people type into search engines. It helps websites rank higher in search results.

  • Using the right keywords can help improve your website’s visibility on Google.
  • He researched popular keywords to increase traffic to his blog.
key concept

Typically used in educational or intellectual discussions to refer to the main ideas or principles that are central to understanding a topic or theory.

  • The key concept of Marxism is the struggle between classes.
  • Newton’s laws of motion are key concepts in the study of physics.
main idea

Often used in reading comprehension and writing to describe the primary point or message an author wants to convey in a text. It's the central thought around which the rest of the text is built.

  • The main idea of the article was to highlight the importance of renewable energy.
  • Can you identify the main idea of this paragraph?
essential term

This is used in academic or technical contexts to describe crucial terms that are fundamental to understanding a particular subject or field.

  • Photosynthesis is an essential term in biology.
  • Understanding inertia is an essential term in physics classes.

Examples of usage

  • In this context, the keyword is crucial for understanding the entire document.
  • The keyword of the discussion was 'innovation'.
  • The keyword 'love' can have various interpretations.
Context #2 | Noun

computing

A word used to retrieve specific information in a search engine or database.

Synonyms

index term, query word, search term.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
keyword

Commonly used in various contexts, such as online search engines, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and indexing databases. It represents a significant word or phrase related to the main topic.

  • When optimizing your article for SEO, make sure to include the main keyword in the title
  • Users often search for products using specific keywords
search term

Used interchangeably with 'keyword' but more often in the context of what users type into a search box. It’s commonly used in digital marketing and analytics.

  • Marketers track popular search terms to understand consumer behavior better
  • By optimizing your website for relevant search terms, you can attract more traffic
query word

Specifically refers to words entered by users in search engines or databases to find specific information. It’s a term explicitly linked to users' search intent.

  • Users often misspell their query words, leading to inaccurate search results
  • Analyzing common query words can help improve a website’s search functionality
index term

Often used in the context of library science, information retrieval, and database management. Refers to a term used to index and categorize content.

  • The librarian added several index terms to the new book so it could be easily found in the database
  • Index terms help in organizing large sets of information efficiently

Examples of usage

  • Enter the keyword in the search bar to find relevant articles.
  • The website is optimized for specific keywords for better visibility on search engines.
Context #3 | Verb

computing

To tag a word for identification or categorization.

Synonyms

categorize, label, tag.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
keyword

Use when referring to important words or phrases that help in searching or summarizing content.

  • The keyword for our research article was 'sustainability'.
  • Search engines use keywords to index web pages.
tag

Use for marking an item or piece of information, often digitally, to indicate its importance or relevance.

  • You can tag your friends in photos on social media.
  • Tag important emails for easier reference later.
label

Use for attaching names or terms to items for identification or clarification, often physically.

  • Please label the boxes before moving them to storage.
  • Each plant in the garden is labeled with its scientific name.
categorize

Use when referring to sorting or classifying items into specific groups or categories.

  • We need to categorize these documents by date.
  • The librarian categorizes the books by genre.

Examples of usage

  • Make sure to keyword all the important points in your article for better SEO.
  • The software allows you to keyword the document for easy access.

Translations

Translations of the word "keyword" in other languages:

🇵🇹 palavra-chave

🇮🇳 मुख्य शब्द

🇩🇪 Schlüsselwort

🇮🇩 kata kunci

🇺🇦 ключове слово

🇵🇱 słowo kluczowe

🇯🇵 キーワード

🇫🇷 mot-clé

🇪🇸 palabra clave

🇹🇷 anahtar kelime

🇰🇷 키워드

🇸🇦 كلمة رئيسية

🇨🇿 klíčové slovo

🇸🇰 kľúčové slovo

🇨🇳 关键词

🇸🇮 ključna beseda

🇮🇸 lykilorð

🇰🇿 кілт сөз

🇬🇪 საკვანძო სიტყვა

🇦🇿 açar söz

🇲🇽 palabra clave

Etymology

The term 'keyword' originated in the context of indexing and information retrieval. It was first used in the early days of computing to describe words that are significant in a particular context or used for searching. Over time, the concept of keywords expanded to include their role in search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing, where specific words are selected to improve a website's visibility in search results.

See also: hotkeys, key, keyboard, keyhole, keying, keylogger, keynote, keypad, keys, keystone, keyway.