What's the difference between a password and a username?

A password is secret. A username shows which account is yours.

Is password a common word in business English?

Yes. People use it often in email, software, and account security.

Can password be only numbers?

Yes. Some systems use a numeric password, often called a passcode.

How do I use password in a sentence?

Say: 'I need to reset my password.'

← Dictionary

password

/ˈpɑːs.wɜːd/

IELTSAcademic

noun

A secret word, phrase, or character string used to prove who you are and get into a computer, phone, or account.

I forgot my password.
Use a strong password for your email.
Enter your password to continue.

Adinary Nuance

A password is the secret you type to get access, while a username or email identifies the account. It is also different from a passcode, which is often shorter and may use numbers only. In everyday English, people say password for most online logins.

In other languages

Vietnamese: mật khẩu
Spanish: contraseña
Chinese: 密码
Japanese: パスワード
Korean: 비밀번호

Etymology

Password comes from the old military phrase for a secret word used by guards. It entered English in the 1600s from the idea of a protected gate or entry.

Common phrases

password resetpassword protectionpassword managerchange your password

Synonyms

passcode access code pin

Related words

username account login security

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a password and a username?: A password is secret. A username shows which account is yours.
Is password a common word in business English?: Yes. People use it often in email, software, and account security.
Can password be only numbers?: Yes. Some systems use a numeric password, often called a passcode.
How do I use password in a sentence?: Say: 'I need to reset my password.'