passport

Pluralpassports

Formspassports, passporting, passported

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An official paper that proves who you are and which country you are from, used for travel between countries.

   Like an ID card that lets you travel to other countries.

   She showed her passport at the airport before her flight.

   He lost his passport while traveling abroad last summer.

   Note
2. 2
   nounfigurativelycountable

   A thing that helps someone get or do what they want.

   Like a key that opens a door to new chances.

   A good education can be a passport to a better job.

   Her talent for languages was her passport into the diplomatic world.

   Similarkey, ticket, gateway, route

   Note
3. 3
   nouncolloquialcountable

   Any paper or ticket that lets you go into or through a place.

   Like a ticket that lets you into a show.

   This ticket is your passport into the festival grounds.

   The wristband worked as a passport through every checkpoint.

   Similarpass, permit, ticket

4. 4
   nouncountable

   A name tag that firefighters hand over before entering a dangerous place, so others know who is still inside.

   Like leaving your name on a list before going into a cave, so people know you are still in there.

   Each firefighter dropped a passport in the box before going inside.

   They checked the passports to see who was still in the building.

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To give someone the right to one benefit automatically because they already qualify for another.

   Like a pass that gets you into one show and lets you into the next one for free.

   Some programs passport families into free meal programs once they receive income support.

   Qualifying for that grant can passport you into several other schemes.

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To set rules for how money given to a local government must be spent.

   Like giving someone money but saying they can only buy food with it.

   The new rules passport the grant so towns can spend it only on roads.

   Lawmakers voted to passport the funds toward schools.

   Similarring-fence, earmark

   Note
7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To give a company the legal right to do business across country borders.

   Like one ticket that lets a store open in many countries.

   These rules passport the bank so it can sell loans in other countries.

   A single license can passport firms into markets across the region.

   Note

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