password

American  

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

noun

• passwords
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• passwords
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of password

First recorded in 1810–20; pass + word

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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

See Examples For:

password passwords

It first provided the information on a thumb drive with the password on a Post-it note.

From Slate ● Oct. 23, 2026

It also did not review local administrator accounts after they were first deployed, with accounts on three affected systems using the same password, for the same period of time.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

One cybersecurity expert expressed concern that such a vast breach could have occurred based on one compromised username and password.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

An earlier audit of the museum’s security protocols found that the Louvre’s video surveillance and physical security systems relied on a weak password, “LOUVRE.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

I mean, I'm constantly forgetting my email password, so I have it written down in a notebook.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

The onus lies mainly on website operators, but users should stay alert for any security advice issued by affected services, such as requests to change passwords, Kanhere said.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

The stolen data did not include Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, financial account information, credit or debit card information or account passwords.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

School opened on schedule on Tuesday, but students, families and staff had to reset more than 600,000 passwords.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Weak passwords, outdated software and poor Wi-Fi security can let strangers access your home camera.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

I didn’t test the IOI passwords until the second night of my indenturement.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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Related Words

• identification

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