Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

card-carrying

American  
[kahrd-kar-ee-ing] / ˈkɑrdˌkær i ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. admittedly belonging to a group or party.

    a card-carrying Communist.

  2. Often Facetious. dedicated to an ideal, profession, or interest.

    a card-carrying humanist.


card-carrying British  

adjective

  1. being an official member of a specified organization

    a card-carrying union member

    a card-carrying Communist

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of card-carrying

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But if you pin them down, they wouldn’t give you the same detail as a card-carrying dispensationalist,” Hummel said.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

The card-carrying couple made a similar pilgrimage in Australia, where they were baffled by the jars of a seasoning called chicken salt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

I wanted to know what was behind the party’s vibe shift, so I called up Paulina Mangubat, digital content and creative director for the Democratic National Committee and a card-carrying millennial/zoomer cusper.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2025

Writing for the Telegraph, Ms Mahmood, who describes herself as a "card-carrying member" of her party's "law and order wing", said that "tough community orders work."

From BBC • May 17, 2025

“I’m just looking out for you, Noah, even if you’re a card-carrying artichoke.”

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson