English Lexicon

Answer key

/ˈæn.sər kiː/
nounCEFR A2 (Elementary)Top #4500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A document or list containing the correct solutions to questions, tests, or problems.

    "The teacher handed out the answer key so the students could check their homework."
  2. 2

    A reference guide providing solutions or decodings for puzzles, exercises, or ciphers.

    "You can verify your puzzle solutions by looking at the answer key in the back of the book."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the combination of the Old English word 'andswaru' (meaning a reply or response to a question) and the Old English 'cǣg' (meaning a metal instrument used to open a lock, later metaphorically extended to mean a means of solving or explaining something). The compound noun has been used in educational contexts since the late 19th century to denote a document containing correct answers to tests or exercises.

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