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

• gateway
• key
• open sesame
• secret
• ticket

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 State Department recently shared a notice of the top mistakes that people make when completing a passport application, including failure to follow the passport photo requirements and not completing all of the form sections. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2024

Speaking with Hugh Jackman, 55, for this week's cover story, which marks PEOPLE's first-ever collectible side-by-side covers featuring the Deadpool & Wolverine stars, the dad of four, 47, shared with PEOPLE that his children hold passports for both the United States and Canada. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 June 2024

Vong was ordered to surrender his passport, not open a new bank account or line of credit and undergo mental health treatment upon being released Thursday. —Dana Munro, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024

The Islamic Republic confiscated my passport in September 2017. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024

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

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