passkey

noun

pass·​key ˈpas-ˌkē How to pronounce passkey (audio)
plural passkeys
1
: a key that provides special access (as to a secure area)
… left his swipe-card passkey behind when he stepped outside the tower's secure door and was unable to get back in …UPI.com
: such as
a
: a key designed to open any of a set of similar locks : master key
b
: a key with a large part of the bit filed away to enable it to open low quality locks as a master key : skeleton key
2
: an authentication method that uses biometrics (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) to identify and grant access to an authorized user
Instead of a vulnerable password, passkeys work by using your biometric data as your login 'fingerprint.' For example, you could use the Touch ID button on a Mac or a facial recognition scanner on your smartphone to log in to your account. No typing required.digitaltrends.com

Examples of passkey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Technologies like passkeys make the user experience very simple, too, while making authentication far less vulnerable to phishing attacks. Atul Tulshibagwale, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 If you are offered a passkey option from a website or your phone, which is beyond a password and can be fingerprint or facial ID options, take them. USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Google has been experimenting with passkeys across numerous products, including Chrome, over the past year. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 10 Oct. 2023 Select Use passkeys, then follow the onscreen prompts. Fox News, 15 Oct. 2023 Google Google is taking a big step toward making passkeys the default login option for its users. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 10 Oct. 2023 That means that creating a passkey as a user is relatively simple. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024 But activating its new passkey option reduces my login process to unlocking 1Password and clicking once to use the encrypted passkey saved in that password manager. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 1 Feb. 2024 So far, there are no known ways passkeys can be defeated in credential phishing attacks. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 18 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'passkey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of passkey was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near passkey

Cite this Entry

“Passkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passkey. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

passkey

noun
pass·​key ˈpas-ˌkē How to pronounce passkey (audio)
1
: a key for opening two or more locks
2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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