password

American  

[pas-wurd, pahs-] / ˈpæsˌwɜrd, ˈpɑs- /

noun

1. a secret word or expression used by authorized persons to prove their right to access, information, etc.

   Synonyms:

   watchword

2. 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.

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password British  

/ ˈpɑːsˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a secret word, phrase, etc, that ensures admission or acceptance by proving identity, membership, etc

2. an action, quality, etc, that gains admission or acceptance

3. a sequence of characters used to gain access to a computer system

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Etymology

Origin of password

First recorded in 1810–20; pass + word

Example Sentences

Aside from the rules on sharing these passwords — you’re not the account holder, so why should you care, right? — he can track your viewing habits.

From MarketWatch

What if he sees you’re still using his account and changes his password?

From MarketWatch

It is important to store documents and passwords — life-insurance policies, bank-account details, mortgage documents, Social Security number, retirement accounts, will and trust documents, etc. — in a safe place beyond the reach of a bad actor.

From MarketWatch

Another crucial sanity-saving task to do for your heirs is to write down your user names and passwords for every account you have.

From MarketWatch

This includes drug discovery, materials science, logistics optimization and breaking every password ever created.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• identification