deadbolt

dead·boult
D2E1A1D2B3O1L1T1
US/ˈdɛdˌboʊ̯lt/

noun

The part of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged.

Similar
deadlockbolt
OriginEnglish bolt ← Middle English bolt ← Old English bolt →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

noundeadbolt (plural deadbolts)

plural deadbolts

  1. The part of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged.
  2. A kind of lock in which the bolt (moving portion) is held in position by the cylinder rather than by a spring and so cannot be retracted except by turning the cylinder.

    Synonyms: deadlock

verbdeadbolt (third-person singular simple present deadbolts, present participle deadbolting, simple past and past participle deadbolted)

present singular third person deadbolts · participle present deadbolting · participle past deadbolted · past deadbolted

  1. transitiveTo fasten or secure with a deadbolt.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA kind of lock in which the bolt (moving portion) is held in position by the cylinder rather than by a spring and so cannot be retracted except by turning the cylinder.

Similar
deadlock

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key

Similar
bolt
Broader
bar
Also see
boltdeadlock

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishdead
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeld-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*bʰóldos?
  4. Proto-Germanic*bultaz
  5. Proto-West Germanic*bolt
  6. Old Englishbolt
  7. Middle Englishbolt
  8. Englishbolt
  9. Englishdeadbolt

From dead + bolt.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French pêne dormant
  • pêne dormantkind of lock
German Schlossriegel
  • Schlossriegelpart of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged
Polish zasuwka, zamek ryglowy
  • zasuwkapart of the lock which is moved when the key is engaged
  • zamek ryglowykind of lock
  • zamek zasuwkowykind of lock
Spanish cerradura sin manija
  • cerradura sin manijakind of lock
Cite this entry
APA

deadbolt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadbolt

MLA

“deadbolt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadbolt. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deadbolt,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadbolt.

Source: deadbolt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.