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

The bond, given an ‘A’ rating by Japan Credit Rating Agency, will be offered mainly to individual investors in Japan, SoftBank said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

In September, Credit Rating agency Moody's warned that other councils were likely to go bust due to a combination of poor governance, large borrowing levels and the falling value of commercial property.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2024

The new venture, named as Qiantang Credit Rating, will become the third personal credit scoring firm in China if officially approved by regulators.

From Reuters • Nov. 26, 2021

Sony Kapoor of the Re-Define thinktank also argues that Britain shouldn't worry about losing its AAA credit rating: Frankly the fuss about #UK Credit Rating is overdone.

From The Guardian • Dec. 5, 2012

China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. put two bonds sold by financing vehicles in southern Yunnan province on its watch list last month after the announcement of a planned asset transfer.

From BusinessWeek • Aug. 25, 2011