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DictionarypassportTravel document
noun

passport

PAS-port/ˈpæspɔːrt/

An official document identifying a person and that person's nationality for international travel.

The traveler presents her passport for inspection at the border counter.

At a border-control counter, a traveler presents an open passport whose portrait matches her face.
Etymology
passOld Frenchto pass
+portOld Frenchport, harbor

A passport originally authorized someone to pass through a port when entering or leaving a country. The name shifted from that permission to the official document naming the traveler and authorizing international travel.

In context

Law&Crime Network19:28
have a valid US driver's license from any state, sir? >> I have my passport, sir.
6 Sovereign Citizens Face Off with Police in Heated Encounters

More examples

  • My passport expires next month, so I need to renew it.
  • The border officer checks our passports before letting us through.
  • You need a valid passport for this international flight.

Forms

passport · passports

Similar words

travel document
Broader term covering passports and other official documents for travel.
ID
Identifies a person but need not establish nationality for travel.