skeleton key

noun

plural skeleton keys
: a key with a large part of the bit filed away to enable it to open low quality locks as a master key

called also passkey

Examples of skeleton key 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.
The right setting acts as a skeleton key. — Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026 That’s what makes a skeleton key truly magical. — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026 Evans, a surefire Hall of Famer, is the skeleton key that can unlock the whole scheme. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026 Marlowe’s supposed involvement in spying then becomes the skeleton key to his psyche. — Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skeleton key

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of skeleton key was in 1810

Rhymes for skeleton key

See All Rhymes for skeleton key

Browse Nearby Words

skeletonizer
skeleton key
skeletonless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

skeleton key

noun
: a key made to open many locks
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