key off

verb

To take something as a controlling input datum.

“She keyed off the ignition and went into the house.”

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Meanings

verbkey off (third-person singular simple present keys off, present participle keying off, simple past and past participle keyed off)

present singular third person keys off · participle present keying off · participle past keyed off · past keyed off

  1. computingTo take something as a controlling input datum.

    This logic keys off the user's social security number.

  2. To turn off something (e.g. a car) using a key.

    She keyed off the ignition and went into the house.

Cite this entry
APA

key off. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20off

MLA

“key off.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20off. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “key off,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20off.

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