passport

American  

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

noun

• passports
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• passportless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• passports
  plural

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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

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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

See Examples For:

passport passports

Federal agents seized her phone and passport and searched her residence as part of an investigation into allegations dating back to her childhood.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

“A stolen login credential should not become a months-long passport to millions of students’ personal records,” said Anton Dahbura, executive director of the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Even for entry, many foreign countries require your passport to show at least six months of remaining validity.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Federal authorities say Diamantis fled to Florida, jumped on a boat to the Bahamas, and then flew via London to Athens—likely using a Greek passport he was supposed to have surrendered.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

“You remember when I had to get my picture taken for that passport thing?”

From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech

It also found employee discipline records, a worker’s criminal-history report, contractor payroll data, tax forms and passports.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

When she reached Omsk airport, the customs officer checked their passports and then turned to Alisa.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Then he stamped their passports and waved them through.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Some of his civil servant friends, even those working in museums, find it "very difficult" to travel abroad and have been told they cannot directly apply for passports because of their jobs, Xiao Wang said.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

“I love what you haven’t done to the place,” she said as she handed him everyone’s passports to check in.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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Related Words

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

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