keynote

UK: /ˈkiːnəʊt/ US: /ˈkiˌnoʊt/ ,(kē′nōt′)

Inflections of 'keynote' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

keynotes

v 3rd person singular

keynoting

v pres p

keynoted

v past

keynoted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

key•note /ˈkiˌnoʊt/   n., v., -not•ed, -not•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance the note or tone on which a key or system of tones is based;
   tonic.
2. Government the central idea, as of a speech or political campaign:
   The keynote of his campaign was the economy.
3. Government keynote address.

v. [~ + object]

4. Government to deliver a keynote address (at):
   He will keynote the conference.

key•not•er, n. [countable] See -nota-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

key•note  (kē′nōt′), n., v., -not•ed, -not•ing. 
n. 

1. Music and Dance the note or tone on which a key or system of tones is founded;
   the tonic.
2. Music and Dance, Government the main idea or central principle of a speech, program, thought, action, etc.
3. Government the policy line to be followed, as by a party in a political campaign, that is set forth authoritatively in advance by an address or other formal announcement.
4. Government See keynote address. 

v.t. 

5. Government to announce the policy of (a political party, campaign, assembly, etc.);
   deliver a keynote address at:
   The governor will keynote the convention.
6. Government to serve as the keynote for.
7. Music and Dance to give the keynote of.

v.i. 

8. Government to provide a keynote, esp. a keynote address:
   He refused an invitation to keynote.

• key¹ + note 1755–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

keynote / ˈkiːˌnəʊt/ noun

1. a central or determining principle in a speech, literary work, etc
2. (as modifier): a keynote speech
3. the note upon which a scale or key is based; tonic

verb (transitive)

1. to deliver a keynote address to (a political convention, etc)