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

They can also be misconfigurations -- for instance, if someone has used the same password for multiple services, or hasn't configured a database properly.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Until then, it’s a good idea to keep your system software updated and use a strong password.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

"I have reset my password but the trains are not coming up on the new app when trying to book a return ticket for tomorrow."

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

That pushed the company to delve into other areas including advertising, cracking down on password sharing and gaming.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026

I have my computer with me, and after I ask three times, the woman at the front desk gives me the wireless password.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Residential security camera systems often come with default passwords or security codes that are easily found online.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

"However, we don't believe that any payment-card information or account passwords have been impacted," it added.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Users should take control of the browser for any tasks involving money, passwords, account settings or messages sent in their name, says Katie Moussouris, chief executive of Luta Security.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Don’t leave computer passwords lying around, and they should not be easy to guess.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

None could pass the Teeth of Mordor and not feel their bite, unless they were summoned by Sauron, or knew the secret passwords that would open the Morannon, the black gate of his land.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

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Related Words

• identification

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