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

Insurance shoppers can also measure an insurer’s financial strength by checking its credit rating through agencies like A.M.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

So for most bonds, the NAIC’s New York-based investment staff automatically assigns a risk score—and a corresponding capital requirement—based on the bond’s public credit rating.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Both Fitch and S&P Global have assigned Paramount a BB+ issuer credit rating, also referred to as junk status.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Posco’s capital expenditure could fall to 5.8 trillion won next year, while debt could widen to 17-18 trillion won in 2026-2027 from 15.8 trillion won in 2025, the global credit rating firm says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

More prone to flooding—the first to take losses—they bear a lower credit rating: triple-B.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis