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watchword

8.2

A secret word that lets people enter or join a group

noun
/ˈwɑːtʃwɜːrd/

: contraseña

To gain access to the secret gathering, you must provide the correct watchword.

Examples

The club member revealed the watchword needed to enter the meeting.
One night, as the emperor's condition worsened, a tribune asked him for the night's watchword and was told to go to the Rising Sun, For I am already setting.
During the ceremony, each guest was asked to say the watchword for identification.

Synonyms

password

vswatchword

281 2.5

A secret word or phrase that lets you access an account

is used to get admission or indicate membership rather than system access

keyword

vswatchword

91 3.0

A short text used to search for, identify, or unlock something

is specifically a secret word used to gain admission or indicate membership

passphrase

vswatchword

Specialized

4 5.6

A group of words used like a password to unlock files or accounts

is usually a shorter secret used to gain admission or show membership

countersign

vswatchword

Specialized

1 8.6

A secret word used to prove someone belongs to a group

is used to gain admission or indicate group membership

codeword

vswatchword

7.5

A word or phrase that gives a secret signal to a group

is used specifically to gain admission or show group membership

Surface Forms

watchword singular

watchwords plural

Morphology

watchword = watch + word (semi-transparent) = watch + word

The compound literally combines 'watch' (sense 'guard') + 'word', but understanding 'password' requires the specialized sense of 'watch' which many learners may not infer.

Etymology

Watchword first meant the single word a guard on watch used to show who belonged at a gate, like a secret password. Because of that history, a watchword can still mean a password or code word used to gain entry.