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Synonyms

passkey

American  
[pas-kee, pahs-] / ˈpæsˌki, ˈpɑs- /

noun

  • passkeys
    plural
  1. master key.

  2. skeleton key.

  3. a private key.

  4. a latchkey.


passkey British  
/ ˈpɑːsˌkiː /

noun

  1. any of various keys, esp a latchkey

  2. another term for master key skeleton key

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of passkey

First recorded in 1810–20; pass + key 1


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:

From a product standpoint, PayPal has pushed passkey verification, which it said has lessened friction customers experience at checkout.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

And McConachie says growing support for the passkey - including with the UK Government's adoption of them across digital services last year - shows "this isn't just a niche trend".

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

And if you log in with a passkey instead of a password, sites typically won’t ask you for a second level of identity verification, such as a two-factor authentication code sent to your phone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

And though the book has its shortcomings, he rightly sees the movie as a kind of passkey into the history of the first half-century of Hollywood itself, warts and all.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2025

Jeff Masemola, our master craftsman, had managed to make a passkey that unlocked most of the doors in and around our section.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

But Card notes, as others have previously, passkeys are "not a silver bullet".

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

Individuals should update software, use password managers, enable two-factor authentication and try passkeys to boost their security.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

This relies on using passkeys to verify the account holder.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2025

The company’s cybersecurity updates come one day after Google announced it will move from traditional passwords to passkeys.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 12, 2023

The fence swirls on and on in growing amnesia becoming the very touchstone of all purpose, stones from Jericho's Wall or the passkeys taken from our material existence.

From The Land of Look Behind by Paul Cameron Brown

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