1
a
: a way of exit or entrance : a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes
Special ships clear passages through the ice.
nasal passages
b
: a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment
Her office is at the end of the passage.
2
a
: the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another
the passage of food through the digestive system
b
: death sense 1a
when he is fit and seasoned for his passage—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
c
: a continuous movement or flow
the passage of time
3
a(1)
: a specific act of traveling or passing especially by sea or air
a long ocean passage
(2)
: a privilege of conveyance as a passenger : accommodations
was able to secure passage on the next flight
b
: the passing of a legislative measure or law : enactment
a bill's passage into law
4
: a right, liberty, or permission to pass
attempted to force passage through the town—C. A. Willoughby
C. A. Willoughby5
a
: something that happens or is done : incident
The soldier related some exciting passages.
b
: something that takes place between two persons mutually
the passage of vows between bride and groom
6
a
: a usually brief portion of a written work or speech that is relevant to a point under discussion or noteworthy for content or style
quoted a passage from the Bible
b
: a phrase or short section of a musical composition
The violinist played the challenging passages with great virtuosity.
c
: a detail of a work of art (such as a painting)
the picture contains several pretty passages of color—Clive Bell
Clive Bell7
: the act or action of passing something or undergoing a passing
The computer facilitates the rapid passage of information.
8
: incubation (see incubate sense 1b) of a pathogen (such as a virus) in culture, a living organism, or a developing egg
Examples of passage in a Sentence
Noun
We squeezed through a narrow passage between the rocks.
Special ships clear passages through the ice.
The medicine makes breathing easier by opening nasal passages.
They controlled the passage of goods through their territory.
the passage of food through the digestive system
the passage of air into and out of the lungs
the passage from life to death
the passage of the seasons
He left after the passage of a few hours.
With the passage of time, the number of children suffering with the disease has decreased dramatically.
Recent Examples on the Web
Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
In addition to minelaying, minesweeping—the ability to detect and remove mines to clear safe passages—is a key element of naval mine warfare.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The passage is a high point of his œuvre and, by extension, in the history of literature.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
At the time, the National Rifle Association (NRA) lobbied for the bill's passage, which was passed by the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate before then-Governor Jeb Bush signed it.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passage
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show current usage.
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Noun
The appointment makes the majority of board members conservative, meaning the controversial policy could see an easier passage if proposed again.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
In addition to minelaying, minesweeping—the ability to detect and remove mines to clear safe passages—is a key element of naval mine warfare.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The passage is a high point of his œuvre and, by extension, in the history of literature.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
At the time, the National Rifle Association (NRA) lobbied for the bill's passage, which was passed by the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate before then-Governor Jeb Bush signed it.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passage
Cite this Entry
“Passage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passage. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
passage
1 of 2 noun
pas·sage
ˈpas-ij 
1
: the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another
the passage of air from the lungs—Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana2
: an anatomical channel
the nasal passages
3
: a movement or an evacuation of the bowels
4
a
: an act or action of passing something or undergoing a passing
passage of a catheter through the urethra
b
: incubation of a pathogen (as a virus) in a tissue culture, a developing egg, or a living organism to increase the amount of pathogen or to alter its characteristics
several passages of the virus through mice
passage
2 of 2 transitive verb
passaged; passaging
: to subject to passage
the virus has been passaged in series seven times—The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
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