Alt key

noun

ˈȯlt- How to pronounce Alt key (audio)
variants or Alt
ˈȯlt How to pronounce Alt key (audio)
: a key on a computer keyboard that when pressed in combination with other keys enables special commands or symbols to be accessed compare control key

Word History

Etymology

Alt short for alternate entry 1 or alternate entry 2

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Alt key was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near Alt key

altius non tollendi

Alt key

Altman

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Alt key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Alt%20key. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

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