cardholder

American  

[kahrd-hohl-der] / ˈkɑrdˌhoʊl dər /

noun

• cardholders
  plural

1. a registered member of an organization, especially of a union or a political party, who has been issued a card in evidence of membership.

2. a person who has a library card.

3. a person to whom a credit card or bank card is issued.

4. (on a typewriter) either of a pair of devices able to be raised to hold stiff objects, as envelopes or cards, in place for typing.

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cardholder British  

/ ˈkɑːdˌhəʊldə /

noun

1. a person who owns a credit or debit card

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cardholders
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cardholder

First recorded in 1650–60; card ¹ + holder

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cardholder cardholders

But cardholder agreements generally allow banks to close an account for any reason—often with stipulations that let them seize points in such cases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

American Express earnings show its affluent cardholder base isn’t changing its spending habits even in the face of higher interest rates and sticky inflation.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

These cards can help if the cardholder uses the introductory period as a chance to pay off the debt, instead of taking a break from paying interest.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

On Reddit, people wrote about receiving one or multiple false collections notices, including, in one case, as the cardholder was closing on a new house.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

Like the cardholder services one from that lady named Rachel.

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor

The rule was intended to target cardholders who try to claim bonus points by applying for the same card multiple times.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Citi earlier this year implemented a policy limiting cardholders to one sign-up bonus a lifetime for its Strata cards.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

The popularity of rewards programs has created a subculture of people obsessed with maximizing their benefits, with cardholders now keeping spreadsheets and setting up calendar reminders to ensure they don’t miss out on perks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Marriott cardholders attending the event would be out of luck if they wanted to use points.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

In one window we had a shelfful of current books, open to attractive pictures, with a sign reminding wayfarers that they might be taken out by cardholders and that cards were free.

From A Librarian's Open Shelf by Arthur E. Bostwick

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