passport

[ pas-pawrt, -pohrt, pahs- ]

noun

1. an official document issued by the government of a country to one of its citizens and, varying from country to country, authorizing travel to foreign countries and authenticating the bearer's identity, citizenship, right to protection while abroad, and right to reenter their native country.
2. anything that ensures admission or acceptance:

   A good education can be your passport to success.

3. any authorization to pass or go somewhere.
4. a document issued to a ship, especially to a neutral merchant ship in time of war, granting or requesting permission to proceed without molestation in certain waters.
5. a certificate intended to secure admission.

passport

/ ˈpɑːspɔːt /

noun

1. an official document issued by a government, identifying an individual, granting him permission to travel abroad, and requesting the protection of other governments for him
2. a licence granted by a state to a foreigner, allowing the passage of his person or goods through the country
3. See sea letter
   another word for sea letter
4. a quality, asset, etc, that gains a person admission or acceptance

Other Words From

• passport·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of passport¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; earlier passeport from Middle French, equivalent to passe- (stem of passer to pass ) + port port ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of passport¹

C15: from French passeport, from passer to pass + port ¹

Example Sentences

When acting Danish finance minister Morten Bødskov announced last week that Denmark would soon launch a digital “corona passport,” the news spread rapidly around the world.

From MIT Technology Review

Like me, she had packed passports but no other documentation.

From Washington Post

Beyond that, immunity passports are not always productive, he says.

From Time

Anyone wanting to build on Beach Island, for example, will need to provide a “materials passport” for their buildings, so whenever they are taken down, the city can reuse the parts.

From Time

After nearly two years on the move, Ajapwoh Sergeo found himself in October in an unfamiliar city possessing little more than his passport from Cameroon.

From Washington Post

Her travel clique has been known to arrive at an airport, bags packed, passport-in-hand, within hours of spotting a deal.

From The Daily Beast

Available at La Boîte SHOLDIT Clutch Wrap Purse, $70 We can all agree the dorky passport holders and money bags have got to go.

From The Daily Beast

Addison was allowed out of jail, finally, but her passport was held pending an investigation—even though nobody questioned her.

From The Daily Beast

Their expectation was that her petition to have her passport returned might be honored.

From The Daily Beast

Freundel was charged with six counts of voyeurism, a misdemeanor, and has surrendered his passport while awaiting trial.

From The Daily Beast

The writer lost a pocket-book containing a passport and a couple of modest ten-pound notes.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt that in getting old Warrender and his daughter to The Park, he was in reality receiving his passport into county society.

From Project Gutenberg

You go to Washington and get your passport, and if you can't hasten matters don't let an outsider know what you are after.

From Project Gutenberg

There was time enough to seek his passport, and Isabel could well imagine that his impatience was not uncontrollable.

From Project Gutenberg

I took my oath before the passport clerk in the innermost recess of the State Department.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• authorization
• key
• license
• permit
• ticket
• visa
• warrant