passkey

noun

pass·​key ˈpas-ˌkē 

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

There is no costly downside now that Google has done away with the requirement to purchase two expensive hardware security keys and enabled the use of a Google passkey instead. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Google offers its own password manager in Chrome, alongside passkeys and autofill support for information like your address and payment card data. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2024

The other issue here is that, while people can remember passwords in their heads, passkeys really need passkey managers. —Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Microsoft is greatly improving its support of passkeys inside Windows 11 soon. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

passkey

noun

pass·​key ˈpas-ˌkē 

1

: a key for opening two or more locks

2

: skeleton key