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Definition of keynote : 1. The fundamental fact or idea; that which gives the key; as, the keynote of a policy or a sermon.
2. The tonic or first tone of the scale in which a piece or passage is written; the fundamental tone of the chord, to which all the modulations of the piece are referred; - called also key tone.

Synonyms:

quinine water, opening, soda pop, important, soda water, tonic water, principal, leading, tonic, official, pop, restorative, soda

different, specialized, idiosyncratic, precise, individual, particular, specific, quirky, peculiar, special, definite, discriminating, distinguishing

forte, quality, particularity, idiosyncrasy, cachet, peculiarity, mannerism, hallmark, feature, discriminant, stamp, specialization, property, way, definiteness, figure, individuality, flavor, quirk, trait, specialty, difference, characteristic, mark

Usage examples:

• Any creative department could have done worse than with Boca's dripping imagery and gift for the keynote phrase. - "Point Spread Poems", Paul Cameron Brown.
• Conquest was not a familiar word in the vocabulary of James Madison, and he may well have prayed to be delivered from the hands of his friends, if this was to be the keynote of their defense of his policy in West Florida. - "Jefferson and his Colleagues A Chronicle of the Virginia Dynasty, Volume 15 In The Chronicles Of America Series", Allen Johnson.
• The keynote of the whole movement is the protection of the weak. - "Problems of Poverty", John A. Hobson.