password

American  

[pas-wurd, pahs-] / ˈpæsˌwɜrd, ˈpɑs- /

noun

1. a secret word or expression used by authorized persons to prove their right to access, information, etc.

   Synonyms:

   watchword

2. a word or other string of characters, sometimes kept secret or confidential, that must be supplied by a user in order to gain full or partial access to a computer, computer system, or electronic device.

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password British  

/ ˈpɑːsˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a secret word, phrase, etc, that ensures admission or acceptance by proving identity, membership, etc

2. an action, quality, etc, that gains admission or acceptance

3. a sequence of characters used to gain access to a computer system

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Etymology

Origin of password

First recorded in 1810–20; pass + word

Explanation

A password is a word — or a series of letters or numbers — that's kept secret. You might need a password to get into your brother's clubhouse or to use your friend's laptop. During World War II, soldiers used passwords to enter guarded areas; these were words or phrases (and responses) that only other Allied soldiers knew. Today, you're more likely to use a password for protecting an electronic device, for withdrawing money from a bank machine, or for logging into your email or social media account. The original meaning of password, from the late 1700s, was "word used to distinguish friend from foe."

Example Sentences

If you shared your password, change it immediately.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

The files were not secured by a password, according to sources who spoke previously with The Times and requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 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

A password manager will help you create and save long, unique—in fact, gibberish—passwords.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

He hadn’t needed to password protect his computer to keep them from prying or hide anything he didn’t want them to see.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• identification