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

According to data provided by the organizers, the 13 stores gave out more than 2750 passports, and all 325 finisher tote bags (and more than 51 additional people finished and will be sent finisher prizes). — Erik Pedersen, Daily News, 28 July 2026

Before booking an airline ticket, travelers have to provide all sorts of personal information, including full legal names, birthdates, passport numbers, and contact information. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026

His likeness appears on commemorative coins issued for the 250th anniversary, as well as on limited-edition passports and on a National Parks pass. — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

The inputting of a passport number when our MacBook fires up? — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 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