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

But that space jaguar skirt bestowed upon me a deeper sense of belonging to Brazil than my passport ever did.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

While Bolsonaro's Brazilian passport and diplomatic passport had been cancelled, he also holds an Italian passport, which he used to board a private jet in Argentina, according to a flight document seen by AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Rome is one of those airports where you take a bus to passport control and baggage claim, at least on certain airlines including American.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Brazil cancelled his passport, after he failed to surrender it to authorities, due to an ongoing criminal investigation.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

It was a picture to renew my Iranian passport.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

They left their phones and passports behind and tried to escape by car, but the road was blocked.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

They say they are investigating his failure to hand over his passports, but this does not classify him as a fugitive.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

Before he left Brazil, the country's Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passports as part of a money-laundering investigation.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

He arrived in Florida Wednesday after dodging Brazilian authorities who demanded his passports.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

The conductor returned with a bundle of passports and tickets.

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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