Phrase guide

key signature

noun · 2 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

An indication of the key of a composition, giving the number of sharps or flats in the corresponding scale.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • The key signatures of D major and b minor both have two sharps.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the sharps or flats that follow the clef and indicate the key

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: signature

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: musical notation

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: armadura — indication of the key of a composition
  • Chinese Mandarin: 調號 /调号 (diàohào) — indication of the key of a composition
  • Czech: předznamenání — indication of the key of a composition
  • Estonian: võtmemärk — indication of the key of a composition
  • Finnish: sävellajin etumerkintä — indication of the key of a composition
  • Finnish: etumerkintä — indication of the key of a composition
  • French: armure — indication of the key of a composition
  • French: armature — indication of the key of a composition
  • German: Vorzeichnung — indication of the key of a composition
  • Greek: οπλισμός (oplismós) — indication of the key of a composition
  • Hungarian: előjegyzés — indication of the key of a composition
  • Polish: znaki przykluczowe — indication of the key of a composition
  • Spanish: armadura de clave — indication of the key of a composition
  • Spanish: armadura de tonalidad — indication of the key of a composition
  • Swedish: förtecken — indication of the key of a composition
  • Welsh: arwydd cywair — indication of the key of a composition