<?php function buildFilter($key) { return function($v) use ($key) { if (array_key_exists($key, $v)) { return true; } return false; }; } $a = [['foo'=>'bar', 'baz'=>'bat'], ['foo'=>'bar1', 'baz'=>'bat1'], ['baz'=>'bat2'], ]; var_dump(array_filter($a, buildFilter('foo')));