latchkey
/ˈlæt͡ʃˌki/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.84 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A key, especially to an outside door.
noun
Ellipsis of latchkey kid.
noun
adj
Pertaining to unsupervised children in afterschool care contexts.
noun
Alternative letter-case form of latchkey; especially when referring to a latchkey program.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Latchkey is before and after school childcare for children who are in grades K-5."
- "Latchkey is a before and after school, school-aged child care program designed to provide quality care and program activities for children in grades K-5."
- "Latchkey is an elementary school-age childcare program that provides care and education for children of working parents. This program is designed to be a link between the home and the school."
- "There is NO Latchkey on days when the schools are closed, including emergency or snow days. There is no Latchkey in the mornings only on DELAYED start days."
- "In fashionable Potomac, for instance, almost 50 percent of the nonparental care was latchkey."
- "Be available as a "safety net" for the parents, especially if both parents work and/or the child is latchkey."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈlæt͡ʃˌki/