contactless

American  

[kon-takt-lis] / ˈkɒn tækt lɪs /

adjective

1. noting or relating to RFID technology or devices that use radio waves to relay identifying information to an electronic reader, so that the device does not need to be in direct contact with the reader.

   contactless credit and debit cards.

2. of or relating to an activity or interaction in which people do not touch one another or come into close proximity.

   contactless food delivery.

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contactless British  

/ ˈkɒntæktlɪs /

adjective

1. without contacts

2. referring to payment systems which use RFID technology and do not require the customer's signature or pin number

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Etymology

Origin of contactless

First recorded in 2000–05; contact + -less

Example Sentences

Just remember to give yourself plenty of time in case of unexpected travel delays and to have a contactless payment method handy for Metro fees.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Under-18s are already barred from using sunbeds, but teenagers can sometimes dodge the rules by using contactless payment systems that let you tap and tan without any checks by a staff member, warns the government.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

This could lead to technologies such as frictional metamaterials, adaptive damping systems, and contactless control components.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

Tickets can be bought online or at the fountain with cards or other contactless payment methods, officials said.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Meanwhile, the UK's financial regulator has proposed that banks and card providers set their own limits on contactless card payments or are allowed to remove the current £100 payment limit entirely.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025