personal identification number
personal identification number — noun
1. a secret code made up of several digits that works together with a bank card or
a secret code made up of several digits that works together with a bank card or credit card to prove who you are when you take out money or make payments
Rohan entered his personal identification number at the machine before taking out cash.
enter + personal identification number + at [machine]
Sivan wrote her personal identification number on paper, which is not secure.
Lucía's bank manager told her to memorize her personal identification number and keep it private.
Defne changed her personal identification number after noticing strange activity on her account.
You need to set a personal identification number when you receive your new bank card.
- PIN
the short, everyday form; the full phrase is rarely used outside official documents
- passcode
a broader term that can refer to any numeric or alphanumeric access code, not just for bank cards
- security code
emphasises the protective function; can also refer to the CVV on a card
文法句型
personal identification number + verb
set/enter/change + personal identification number
用法筆記
The full phrase 'personal identification number' is formal. In everyday speech, people almost always use the acronym PIN (e.g. 'I forgot my PIN'). The form 'PIN number' is common but technically redundant because the 'N' already stands for 'number'.