passport

American  

[pas-pawrt, -pohrt, pahs-] / ˈpæs pɔrt, -poʊrt, ˈpɑs- /

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.

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passport British  

/ 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. another word for sea letter

4. a quality, asset, etc, that gains a person admission or acceptance

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Other Word Forms

• passportless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of passport

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

Explanation

A passport is a government-issued document you need to travel between countries. Americans must have a passport to travel out of the U.S., even if they're just going to Canada for the weekend. A passport is a small book that includes the name, nationality, and photograph of the person it belongs to. Its many pages are stamped each time you enter a new country. When you apply for a passport, you have to prove your identity and nationality, and have your picture taken. Colloquially, passport also means something that helps you get where you want to go: "This amusement part ticket is your passport to fun!"

Example Sentences

One analyst received a scan of the passport of the chief executive of a prominent hedge-fund manager as part of a client onboarding process for a transaction.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

The number, shamelessly teased, does indeed serve as her passport.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Roper and his colleagues spent two days at the passport office in Newport, Wales, producing 12,000 possible names.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

The commemorative passport is the latest move by the administration to associate Trump's name and likeness with various government programmes and public buildings.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Finally, he was told by a customs agent that he had to have additional pages added to his passport.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

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