Credit Card Definition, Usage and Examples

Meaning 1：deferred payment card (credit card)

credit card 🔊

/ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːrd/

A small plastic card that lets you buy things now and pay for them later, usually with added interest if you don't pay the full amount quickly.

Credit card tap payment at store checkout

deferred payment card 🔊

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/dɪˈfɜːrd ˈpeɪmənt kɑːrd/

A credit card is a payment card issued by a financial institution that allows the cardholder to borrow funds to pay for goods and services, with the agreement to repay the borrowed amount later, often with interest.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'credere' (to trust) and 'charta' (paper).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'credit' as trust, and 'card' as a tool; you trust to pay later.

📖 Example

I forgot my wallet, but luckily I can pay for these books with my credit card. 🔊 I forgot my wallet, but luckily I can pay for these books with my credit card.

🔗 Collocations

apply for a credit card – to request a credit card from a bank or financial institution

credit card debt – money owed to the credit card issuer from unpaid balances

credit card limit – the maximum amount a cardholder is allowed to borrow

🔄 Synonyms

charge card (n) – a card that requires the full balance to be paid each month

plastic money (n) – a colloquial term for credit or debit cards

bank card (n) – a card issued by a bank for financial transactions

🚫 Antonyms

cash (n) – physical money used immediately without borrowing

debit card (n) – a card that deducts funds directly from a bank account

🌱 Derivatives

credit cardholder (n) – a person who owns and uses a credit card

credit card fraud (n) – illegal use of someone else's credit card information

credit card statement (n) – monthly bill showing transactions and balance

📖 Cultural Story

The first universal credit card was introduced by Diners Club in 1950, allowing members to pay at multiple restaurants. Later, BankAmericard (now Visa) pioneered revolving credit.