Suchwort

Suchwort is a German-language term used in information science and early search interfaces to denote the primary word or phrase a user enters to retrieve information. It is essentially synonymous with the idea of a "search term" or "query term," capturing the user’s input that initiates a search.

Etymology and context: The word combines Such- (to search) and Wort (word) and appears in German library and information retrieval literature from the early 20th century. In historical texts, Suchwort is often contrasted with indexing terms assigned to documents, highlighting the distinction between user-entered queries and curated metadata.

Usage and distinctions: In practice, Suchwort refers to what the user types to find results, while controlled terms like Schlagwort or indexing terms describe content for cataloging purposes. Modern German usage increasingly prefers Suchbegriff or Suchanfrage for the user-side concept, with Suchwort appearing mainly in older manuals or regional texts. The term is typically discussed as part of the evolution of search interfaces from free-text entry toward more structured query concepts.

See also: Keyword, Search term, Query, Index term, Schlagwort, Suchbegriff.