passport

noun

pass·​port ˈpas-ˌpȯrt 

plural passports

1

a

: a formal document issued by an authorized official of a country to one of its citizens that is usually necessary for exit from and reentry into the country, that allows the citizen to travel in a foreign country in accordance with visa requirements, and that requests protection for the citizen while abroad

b

: a license issued by a country permitting a foreign citizen to pass or take goods through its territory : safe-conduct

c

: a document of identification required by law to be carried by persons residing or traveling within a country

2

a

: a permission or authorization to go somewhere

b

: something that secures admission, acceptance, or attainment

education as a passport to success

see also:

vaccine passport

Synonyms of passport

• ticket
• key
• gateway

Examples of passport in a Sentence

meeting that movie director could be your passport to a big acting career

to its followers, the cult seemed like their passport to heaven

Recent Examples on the Web

The company is working toward a digital product passport for 2026, which Ozek said would allow customers to trace everything from the farm level through chemical and social compliance to carbon footprint and energy use. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Arizona State and Kansas are taking the Big 12 to London’s Wembley Stadium for the first college football game ever played there, because apparently, football always needs a passport now. — Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

More Stylish, From $20 Steves is a longtime fan of money belts, recommending them as a discreet way for travelers to securely hide valuables like cash, passports, and credit cards beneath their clothes. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2026

IDScan provides technology that businesses use to scan and verify driver's licenses, passports and other forms of identification. — Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) pasport, from Middle French passeport, from passer to pass + port port, from Latin portus — more at ford

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing passport

• vaccine passport

Rhymes for passport

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• disport
• distort
• escort
• exhort

Kids Definition

passport

noun

pass·​port ˈpas-ˌpō(ə)rt 

-ˌpȯ(ə)rt

1

: a government-issued document that serves to identify a citizen and allows him or her to travel to foreign countries

2

: something that allows a person to reach a desired goal

education can be a passport to a successful future