green card

American  

noun

• green cards
  plural

1. an official card, originally green, issued by the U.S. government to foreign nationals permitting them to work in the U.S.

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green card British  

noun

1. an official permit allowing the holder permanent residence and employment, issued to foreign nationals in the US

2. an insurance document covering motorists against accidents abroad

3. social welfare (in Britain) an identification card issued by the Manpower Services Commission to a disabled person, to show registration for employment purposes and eligibility for special services See also handicap register registered disabled

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• green-carder
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• green cards
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of green card

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

green card

He now faces a four-year prison sentence if he returns to Brazil, but has secured a U.S. green card, allowing him to remain in the country permanently.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, 56, who died of unknown causes last week at an ICE facility in Texas, was arrested because the agency alleged he had fraudulently obtained his green card.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Bhengura moved to the U.S. and spent 18 years working toward becoming a legal resident, securing his green card in 2022.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

Vela Gonzalez carried the temporary green card in his wallet for nearly five decades.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

I knew Blanca was kind, but getting someone a green card is tough.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez

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