passport
B1Neutral, formal in legal contexts
Definition
Meaning
An official government document that certifies the holder's identity and nationality, authorizing them to travel internationally.
Something that enables a person to achieve something or gain access to a place, opportunity, or state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun. The extended meaning is a conventional metaphor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling is identical. The process of obtaining one and the document's appearance/security features may differ nationally.
Connotations
Identical core connotations of official authority, freedom to travel, and national identity.
Frequency
Equal high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have/get/renew/lose a passportpassport to (metaphorical) + NOUN (e.g., success, freedom)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a passport to success/freedom/adventure”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Required document for international business travel and work visas.
Academic
Discussed in contexts of citizenship, globalisation, and international law.
Everyday
Essential for holidays, visiting family abroad, and proving identity.
Technical
A biometric or machine-readable travel document (MRTD) governed by ICAO standards.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a British passport.
- You need your passport to fly to America.
- Her passport photo is very nice.
- Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months.
- He lost his passport while travelling in Asia.
- A university degree can be a passport to a good job.
- Upon arrival, we queued for nearly an hour at passport control.
- The new biometric passports are much harder to forge.
- Her fluency in Mandarin became her passport into the Chinese market.
- The controversial policy could effectively render their passports worthless for travel to certain nations.
- He argued that cultural exchange was the most powerful passport to mutual understanding between peoples.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: You need to PASS through a PORT (harbour/airport) with your PASSPORT.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCESS IS A PASSPORT (e.g., 'Education is a passport to a better future').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'загранпаспорт' (foreign passport) vs. 'паспорт' (internal ID). In English, 'passport' always refers to the international travel document.
- Avoid literal translation of 'сделать паспорт' as 'make a passport'; use 'get' or 'apply for a passport'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'passports' (correct).
- Incorrect article: 'I need passport' (correct: 'I need a passport').
- Confusing with 'visa' (a stamp/permission in a passport).
Practice
Quiz
In the metaphorical phrase 'a passport to success', what does 'passport' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A passport is an identity document issued by your country. A visa is a separate endorsement (often a stamp or sticker in your passport) granted by the country you wish to enter, giving you permission to enter for a specific purpose and duration.
No, 'passport' is not used as a verb in standard modern English. You must use phrases like 'get a passport' or 'be issued a passport'.
Yes, the pattern 'a passport to + [abstract noun, e.g., success, freedom]' is a common and well-understood metaphor meaning 'something that provides access or opportunity'.
It is the area at an airport, seaport, or border where officials check the passports and visas of arriving or departing travellers.
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.