keys to the kingdom
keys to the kingdom noun: a resource, usually information or knowledge, the possession of which gives the possessor access to power.
Noun
keys to the kingdom pl (plural only)
- A resource, usually information or knowledge, the possession of which gives the possessor access to power.
- This fortress, from its strong position, was considered as one of the keys to the kingdom, and had belonged to the Earl of March, a disappointed candidate for the crown, who had now attached himself to the banner of England.1830, John Donald Carrick, Life of Sir William Wallace of Elderslie, page 112
- The passwords they control are the keys to the kingdom, so what protections should be taken?2002 April 8, InfoWorld, volume 24, number 14, page 28
Forms of keys to the kingdom
| alternative form | keys of the kingdom |
|---|---|
| alternative form | key to the kingdom |
Origin of keys to the kingdom
Originating from the concept of resources that were the means of obtaining control over an actual kingdom, i.e., a realm under the rulership of a king. Compare also King James Bible Matthew 16:19, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
Questions about keys to the kingdom
- What does keys to the kingdom mean?
- Keys to the kingdom means a resource, usually information or knowledge, the possession of which gives the possessor access to power.
- What part of speech is keys to the kingdom?
- Keys to the kingdom is a noun.
Words near keys to the kingdom in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: keys to the kingdom (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-au-keys to the kingdom.ogg.
Cite this entry: “keys to the kingdom.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/keys_to_the_kingdom. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.