1
: the fundamental or central fact, idea, or mood
Sadness is the keynote of this little collection.—Books Abroad
One keynote of his mind has been his interest in deceit, his perceptions about the use of flimflam in modern life …—Stanley Kauffmann
2
music
: the first and harmonically fundamental tone of a scale
3
: keynote address
Following Tuesday morning's keynote, sessions progress through all areas.—Jim Rosenberg
Sprinting from workshops to motivational keynotes featuring famous faces and wannabes, I came away inspired and armed with information …—Peggy Klaus
keynoted; keynoting; keynotes
keynoter
noun
Cite this Entry
“Keynote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keynote. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.
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