password

noun

pass·​word ˈpas-ˌwərd How to pronounce password (audio)
plural passwords
1
: something that enables one to pass or gain admission: such as
a
: a spoken word or phrase required to pass by a guard
b
: a sequence of characters required for access to a computer system or digital device compare passcode
2

Examples of password in a Sentence

You need to enter your password to check your e-mail. the password for the all-night rave will be changed next week
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is all part of Microsoft’s push for users to delete account passwords altogether and to use passkeys instead. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Change passwords Continue to change passwords for all your important accounts, including email, banking and social media. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025 Voice recognition, facial scanning, and fingerprint readers are replacing passwords. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 June 2025 That means no more switching apps, no more remembering separate passwords for individual services, and no guessing which movie or show is on which platform. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for password

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of password was in 1799

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Password.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/password. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

password

noun
pass·​word -ˌwərd How to pronounce password (audio)
1
: a word or phrase that must be spoken by a person in order to pass a guard
2
: a secret series of numbers or letters required for access to a computer

More from Merriam-Webster on password

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!