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

The stolen data did not include Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, financial account information, credit or debit card information or account passwords.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Unless you have recently renewed your U.S. passport, doing so before relocation abroad gives you 10 years until the next expiration date.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Voters will need to show a form of acceptable ID - such as a driving licence or passport - to be able to vote.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

She set down her bag and walking stick, then slid her passport through the slot under the glass.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat

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

The children's grandfather added that the siblings will keep their British passports and go back to the UK "when they reach the right age".

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

You can already renew passports online in many cases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Moreover, although he holds passports for both countries, he has further fortified his safety net with German citizenship, for which he is eligible due to his German-born parents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

The passports and tickets were in a pile at one side.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

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Related Words

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

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