Phrase guide

function key

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of a set of keys on a personal computer or terminal keyboard used to activate a predefined or programmable function, especially a numbered row of keys (F1, F2, etc.) above the alphanumeric keys.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

First use appears c. 1930 in the listing of U.S. Patents.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 功能键 (gōngnéngjiàn) — computing: key that activates a function
  • Danish: funktionstast — computing: key that activates a function
  • Faroese: funkuknappur — computing: key that activates a function
  • Finnish: funktionäppäin — computing: key that activates a function
  • Finnish: toimintonäppäin — computing: key that activates a function
  • French: touche de fonction — computing: key that activates a function
  • Icelandic: aðgerðarhnappur — computing: key that activates a function
  • Japanese: ファンクションキー (fankushon kī) — computing: key that activates a function
  • Korean: 기능 키 (gineung ki) — computing: key that activates a function
  • Korean: 펑션 키 (peongsyeon ki) — computing: key that activates a function
  • Norwegian Bokmål: funksjonstast — computing: key that activates a function
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: funksjonstast — computing: key that activates a function
  • Polish: klawisz funkcyjny — computing: key that activates a function
  • Portuguese: tecla de função — computing: key that activates a function
  • Spanish: tecla de función — computing: key that activates a function
  • Swedish: funktionstangent — computing: key that activates a function
  • Turkish: fonksiyon tuşu — computing: key that activates a function
  • Turkish: işlev tuşu — computing: key that activates a function