credit rating

American  

noun

1. a classification of credit risk based on investigation of a customer's or potential customer's financial resources, prior payment pattern, and personal history or degree of personal responsibility for debts incurred.

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credit rating British  

noun

1. an evaluation of the creditworthiness of an individual or business enterprise

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credit rating Cultural  

1. An evaluation of the financial trustworthiness of an individual, firm, or government.

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Etymology

Origin of credit rating

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

“You wouldn’t want a credit rating agency to say, ‘Well, you’re not going to sell it, and so therefore I’m going to mark it to zero in my credit assessment.’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

On Thursday, Moody's downgraded its credit rating for South East Water, citing the "fallout" from supply failures and "continued resilience risk the company faces".

From BBC • May 31, 2026

She also wants to partner with financial institutions to develop a system for unbanked individuals, meaning those who don’t use traditional banks or credit unions, to start earning a credit rating and score.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Lilly received an endorsement from an unlikely cheerleader on Thursday: S&P Global Ratings, which upgraded Lilly’s issuer credit rating to AA- from A+ while maintaining a positive outlook.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton was a warm woman with a soft voice and close-cropped hair who worked in customer service at a credit rating company.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama