Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small plastic card issued by a bank or financial institution that allows the holder to purchase goods or services on credit. The issuer pays the seller, and the cardholder repays the issuer later, often with interest if the balance is not paid in full by the due date.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • I paid for the hotel room with my credit card.
  • Always check your credit card statement for unauthorized charges.
  • She applied for a new credit card with a lower interest rate.

Advanced Usage

• "to max out a credit card": to use a credit card up to its spending limit.
  • He maxed out his credit card on holiday shopping.
• "to pay off a credit card": to repay the entire outstanding balance owed on a credit card.
  • Her goal this year is to pay off her credit card debt.

Variants and Related Words

• Debit card (n): A plastic card that deducts money directly from a bank account when used for payment.
• Charge card (n): A card requiring the balance to be paid in full each month, with no option for extended credit with interest.
• Credit limit (n): The maximum amount that can be charged to a credit card.
• Cardholder (n): The person to whom a credit card is issued.

Synonyms

• Plastic (n, informal): A casual term for a credit card.
  • Do you take plastic?

Related Phrases

• Credit card fraud: The unauthorized use of a credit card to obtain goods or services.
  • The bank notified her of possible credit card fraud.
• Credit card issuer: The bank or company that provides the credit card.
  • You should contact your credit card issuer immediately if your card is lost.

Noun

1. a card (usually plastic) that assures a seller that the person using it has a satisfactory credit rating and that the issuer will see to it that the seller receives payment for the merchandise delivered
   • do you take plastic?