function key

noun

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.

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Meanings

nounfunction key (plural function keys)

plural function keys

  1. computingAny 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.

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 功能键
  • 功能键 (gōngnéngjiàn)computing: key that activates a function
Danish funktionstast
  • funktionstastcomputing: key that activates a function
Finnish funktionäppäin, toimintonäppäin
  • funktionäppäincomputing: key that activates a function
  • toimintonäppäincomputing: key that activates a function
French touche de fonction
  • touche de fonctioncomputing: key that activates a function
Icelandic aðgerðarhnappur
  • aðgerðarhnappurcomputing: key that activates a function
Japanese ファンクションキー
  • ファンクションキー (fankushon kī)computing: key that activates a function
Korean 기능 키, 펑션 키
  • 기능 키 (gineung ki)computing: key that activates a function
  • 펑션 키 (peongsyeon ki)computing: key that activates a function
Norwegian Bokmål funksjonstast
  • funksjonstastcomputing: key that activates a function
Polish klawisz funkcyjny
  • klawisz funkcyjnycomputing: key that activates a function
Portuguese tecla de função
  • tecla de funçãocomputing: key that activates a function
Spanish tecla de función
  • tecla de funcióncomputing: key that activates a function
Swedish funktionstangent
  • funktionstangentcomputing: key that activates a function
Turkish fonksiyon tuşu, işlev tuşu
  • fonksiyon tuşucomputing: key that activates a function
  • işlev tuşucomputing: key that activates a function
Cite this entry
APA

function key. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/function%20key

MLA

“function key.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/function%20key. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “function key,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/function%20key.

Source: function key on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.