passport

American  

[pas-pawrt, -pohrt, pahs-] / ˈpæs pɔrt, -poʊrt, ˈpɑs- /

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.

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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

• passportless adjective

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

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

The partner of US influencer Ashly Robinson, who died last week while on holiday with him on the Tanzanian islands of Zanzibar, has had his passport "withheld", the local police said in a statement.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Local media reported that Ramagem left Brazil via the border with Guyana, bypassing immigration controls, and entered the United States on a diplomatic passport.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

A Wall Street Journal reporter was assigned his own full security detail as he walked from passport control at the airport to a taxi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The Hawaladar owner in Erbil denied offering to take money to help our undercover reporter travel to the UK on a false passport.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

But it still took many, many months of persuasive pestering before Dasch received a new German passport and a ticket back to Germany.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

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