Phrase guide

latchkey kid

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

A schoolchild who carries keys to their residence because there is usually no parent home when school finishes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: latchkey child

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 掛鑰匙兒童 /挂钥匙儿童 (guàyàoshi értóng) — schoolchild
  • Chinese Mandarin: 鑰匙兒童 /钥匙儿童 (yàoshi értóng) — schoolchild
  • Danish: nøglebarn — schoolchild
  • Dutch: sleutelkind — schoolchild
  • Finnish: avainkaulalapsi — schoolchild
  • Finnish: avainlapsi — schoolchild
  • French: enfant à clé — schoolchild
  • German: Schlüsselkind — schoolchild
  • Hungarian: kulcsos gyerek — schoolchild
  • Icelandic: lyklabarn — schoolchild
  • Japanese: 鍵っ子 (kagikko) — schoolchild
  • Norwegian: nøkkelbarn — schoolchild
  • Spanish: niño con llave — schoolchild
  • Swedish: nyckelbarn — schoolchild