passport

[pas-pawrt, -pohrt, pahs-]

noun

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.

passport

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• passportless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of passport¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; earlier passeport from Middle French, equivalent to passe- (stem of passer to pass ) + port port ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of passport¹

C15: from French passeport, from passer to _pass + _port ¹

Example Sentences

Velez told committee members that she now carries her passport with her.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Russians do not need a passport to enter Armenia; their internal ID is enough.

Read more on BBC

Kamlager-Dove said her most common immigration requests from constituents are for help with visas and passports.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For enterprising men, money from war, industry or trade was a passport through social frontiers—the tradesman, merchant or lucky naval captain could become a landed gentleman, as happens in Austen’s novels.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She made the trip without a passport, which doomed her desperate efforts to board a ship home as the war erupted.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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