password

noun

pass·​word ˈpas-ˌwərd 

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

: watchword

Synonyms

• countersign
• watchword
• word

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

LastPass is a great resource for protecting all your passwords in one place, saving you time from resetting, and resetting again. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 27 Dec. 2024

The good news for anyone who can’t remember their Google account password, or even those for whom an attacker has compromised the account and changed the passwords, phone numbers and even passkeys to prevent the genuine account holder from regaining access, is that all is not lost. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

There have been increasing calls for people, and particularly families, to create passphrases or passwords with each other. —Matt Burgess, WIRED, 25 Dec. 2024

Leaving the default admin password unchanged is like leaving your front door unlocked. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

password

noun

pass·​word -ˌwərd 

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