/pas"werrd', pahs"-/ , n.
1. a secret word or expression used by authorized persons to prove their right to access, information, etc.
2. a word or other string of characters, sometimes kept secret or confidential, that must be supplied by a user in order to gain full or partial access to a multiuser computer system or its data resources. Cf. countersign .
[ 1810-20; PASS + WORD ]
Syn. 1. watchword.