passbook

American  

[pas-book, pahs-] / ˈpæsˌbʊk, ˈpɑs- /

noun

1. a bankbook.

2. (formerly) a small book or ledger for each customer in which a merchant keeps a record of goods sold on credit and the amounts owed and paid.

3. South African. reference book.

---

passbook British  

/ ˈpɑːsˌbʊk /

noun

1. a book for keeping a record of withdrawals from and payments into a building society

2. another name for bankbook

3. a customer's book in which is recorded by a trader a list of credit sales to that customer

4. (formerly in South Africa) an official document serving to identify the bearer, his race, his residence, and his employment

---

Etymology

Origin of passbook

First recorded in 1820–30; pass + book

Example Sentences

To set it up, head on down to the app settings for Passbook & Apple Pay on your phone’s Apple Watch app.

From The Verge • Apr. 24, 2015

Apple’s Passbook app collects virtual coupons, which is basically a mobile wallet without the credit card information. Expect to see some combination of these features in Apple’s mobile-payment system.

From BusinessWeek • Sep. 5, 2014

Google challenges Passbook with release of wallet app for iPhone Google is bringing its digital wallet to the iPhone in its latest attempt to upstage Apple on its own popular device.

From Washington Post • Sep. 19, 2013

I’m excited to start using Passbook and for some reason my favorite upgrade is the little amoeba-type thing that you pull down to update your mailbox.

From Forbes • Sep. 21, 2012

Apple is taking a more cautious approach to new mobile payment systems, offering a feature in its new iPhone software called Passbook for storing electronic versions of store payment, gift and loyalty cards.

From New York Times • Sep. 16, 2012