Latchkey Meaning in English
word
Definition
A latchkey is a key that opens the main door of a house or apartment. The term is also used in 'latchkey child', meaning a child who returns home to an empty house because their parents are at work.
Usage & Nuances
'Latchkey' is now rare except in the phrase 'latchkey child.' Refers to kids who care for themselves alone after school. As a noun for just the key, it's old-fashioned; 'house key' is more common in modern English.
Example Sentences
I forgot my latchkey and had to wait outside.
basic
He keeps his latchkey in his backpack.
basic
She is a latchkey child because her parents work late.
basic
When I was a kid, being a latchkey child meant eating snacks alone after school.
natural
You can tell he's a latchkey kid by the house key around his neck.
natural
Don’t forget your latchkey or you’ll be locked out again.
natural