I. ˈpasˌpō(ə)r]t, ˈpaas-, ˈpais-, -pȯ(ə)r], -ōə], -ȯ(ə)], usu ]d.+V\ noun
Etymology: Middle French passeport, from passer to pass + port port, from Latin portus — more at ford
1.
a. : a formal document issued by a competent officer (as a secretary of state) of a country to a citizen of the country and now usually necessary for exit from and reentry into the country, that certifies to the identity and citizenship of the bearer, calls upon the officers of foreign governments to extend protection to him when needed, and allows him to travel within the borders of a foreign country when it has been endorsed with a visa by an authorized official of that country
b. : sea letter
c. : a license issued by a country permitting a foreign citizen to pass or take goods through its territory : safe-conduct
d. : a document of identification required by the laws of a country to be carried by persons residing or traveling within that country
in Germany the labor passports were compulsory only for persons under twenty-one — Manya Gordon
2.
a. : a permission or authorization to go somewhere
held that good works were a passport to heaven — R.M.Lovett
the composer managed to write a concerto … which proved to be his passport to Paris — Howard Dietz
b. : something that introduces or guarantees : voucher
c. : something that secures admission or acceptance : a means of entry into some group, society, or condition of life
may cultivate art as a culture, as a passport to more exclusive circles of society — Herbert Read
trained intellect was henceforth to be a young man's best passport — G.M.Trevelyan
a passport to fame
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to provide with a passport