an official document issued by a government, identifying an individual, granting permission to travel abroad, and requesting the protection of other governments for him or her a licence granted by a state to a foreigner, allowing the passage of his or her person or goods through the country a quality, asset, etc, that gains a person admission or acceptance
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pass•port /ˈpæspɔrt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a document issued by a government to a citizen, establishing his or her identity and right to travel to and return from other countries.
- anything that provides admission:Education is no longer a passport to success.
pass•port
(pas′pôrt, -pōrt, päs′-),USA pronunciation n.
pass′port•less, adj.
- an official document issued by the government of a country to one of its citizens and, varying from country to country, authorizing travel to foreign countries and authenticating the bearer's identity, citizenship, right to protection while abroad, and right to reenter his or her native country.
- anything that ensures admission or acceptance:A good education can be your passport to success.
- any authorization to pass or go somewhere.
- a document issued to a ship, esp. to a neutral merchant ship in time of war, granting or requesting permission to proceed without molestation in certain waters.
- a certificate intended to secure admission.
- Middle French, equivalent. to passe- (stem of passer to pass) + port port1
- earlier passeport 1490–1500
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