key signature

noun

: the sharps or flats placed after a clef in music to indicate the key

Examples of key signature in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most of the songs were sung a half-step down from their original key signature. — Katie Reul, Variety, 18 Oct. 2022 In musical terms, values are the key signature. — Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 18 Feb. 2026 Once the saxophone riff was added, the song was completely reworked around that, and nothing else but the tempo and key signature was retained. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 1 July 2021 And then there’s his fascinating key signatures, and chord changes, and the influence of Brazilian bossa nova. — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for key signature

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of key signature was in 1843

Browse Nearby Words

keyset
key signature
keyslot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Key signature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20signature. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

key signature

noun
: the sharps or flats placed after a clef in music to indicate the key
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All