password
Americannoun
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passwords
plural
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a secret word or expression used by authorized persons to prove their right to access, information, etc.
- Synonyms:
- watchword
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a word or other string of characters, sometimes kept secret or confidential, that must be supplied by a user in order to gain full or partial access to a computer, computer system, or electronic device.
noun
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a secret word, phrase, etc, that ensures admission or acceptance by proving identity, membership, etc
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an action, quality, etc, that gains admission or acceptance
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a sequence of characters used to gain access to a computer system
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of password
Explanation
A password is a word — or a series of letters or numbers — that's kept secret. You might need a password to get into your brother's clubhouse or to use your friend's laptop. During World War II, soldiers used passwords to enter guarded areas; these were words or phrases (and responses) that only other Allied soldiers knew. Today, you're more likely to use a password for protecting an electronic device, for withdrawing money from a bank machine, or for logging into your email or social media account. The original meaning of password, from the late 1700s, was "word used to distinguish friend from foe."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It first provided the information on a thumb drive with the password on a Post-it note.
From Slate ● Oct. 23, 2026
But the “Fortitude” drive wasn’t protected by a password.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
A data breach could affect customers in the future if their personal information is used in so-called "phishing" attacks, where someone is tricked into revealing their password to an online service.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026
According to the watchdog, ONL created a test account in 2012 and used the password "Password1" to protect it, failing to audit it or remove it for more than 12 years.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
This was evidently a password, because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
The onus lies mainly on website operators, but users should stay alert for any security advice issued by affected services, such as requests to change passwords, Kanhere said.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
“Do not provide Social Security numbers, passwords, financial information, or other sensitive personal information in response to unsolicited requests.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
School opened on schedule on Tuesday, but students, families and staff had to reset more than 600,000 passwords.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Intelligence agencies scour the internet for vulnerable cameras and robotically tap in to them by testing millions of passwords.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
None could pass the Teeth of Mordor and not feel their bite, unless they were summoned by Sauron, or knew the secret passwords that would open the Morannon, the black gate of his land.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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