passport
Americannoun
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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.
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anything that ensures admission or acceptance.
A good education can be your passport to success.
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any authorization to pass or go somewhere.
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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.
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a certificate intended to secure admission.
noun
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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
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a licence granted by a state to a foreigner, allowing the passage of his person or goods through the country
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another word for sea letter
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a quality, asset, etc, that gains a person admission or acceptance
Other Word Forms
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!"
Vocabulary lists containing passport
Greetings, World Traveler! — List 1
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Travel
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for April 9–April 15, 2022
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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.
For nearly seven decades, the stars aligned at Passport Photo Service, a second-floor studio conveniently located among the embassies in London’s Grosvenor Square.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
It says people should download the free Mobile Passport Control External link app to get through customs more easily when they return.
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
The Passport Policy also invites the probing, and at times humiliating, additional scrutiny these plaintiffs have experienced.”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025
Now it will cost us nothing beyond what you’re willing to contribute to your local member station, including subscribing to PBS Passport and NPR+, or donating to stations that are hanging on by a thread.
From Salon • Aug. 6, 2025
“That means there are at least one thousand people coming through Passport Control,” said Rio.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
