passage

1 of 2

noun

pas·​sage ˈpa-sij 

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

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

5

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

7

: 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

passage

2 of 2

verb

passaged; passaging

intransitive verb

: to go past or across : cross

transitive verb

: to subject to passage

passaged a virus

Synonyms

Noun

• route
• path
• approach
• road

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

Noun

Following the release, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and disarmament would receive amnesty, with safe passage offered to those wishing to leave Gaza for countries that have agreed to receive them. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

Democrats countered that the GOP proposal actually is partisan, since Republicans are seeking to extend funding following the passage of a controversial spending bill that narrowly passed in July over the objections of all congressional Democrats. —Kevin Breuninger,sam Meredith, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025

The Orionid meteor shower is an annual event that occurs because of the Earth's passage through debris left by comet 1P/Halley (Halley's comet). —Harry Bennett, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025

The red agate worn by his mother reflects silent compassion, and the pearl accents on the Wulu pendant evoke the gentle passage of time. —Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1824, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing passage

• air passage
• back passage
• bird of passage
• purple passage
• rite of passage

Kids Definition

passage

noun

pas·​sage

ˈpas-ij

1

: the action or process of passing from one place or condition to another

2

a

: a road, path, channel, or course by which something can pass

b

: corridor sense 1

3

a

: voyage entry 1, journey

b

: a right to travel as a passenger

book passage on an airplane

4

: the passing of a law

5

: a usually brief portion of a written work or speech or of a musical composition

Medical 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

2

: 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