In this paper, a passivity-based adaptive output feedback control for discrete-time nonlinear systems is considered. Output Feedback Strictly Passive (OFSP) conditions in order to design a stable adaptive output control system will be established. Further, a design scheme of a parallel feedforward compensator (PFC), which is introduced in order to realize an OFSP controlled system, will be provided and an adaptive output feedback control system design scheme with a PFC will be proposed. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.