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

See Examples For:

contactless

Walmart is finally adding tap-to-pay options to its checkout lanes, after years of limiting contactless payments to its proprietary apps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Earlier this year, people started putting their credit cards in 3D-printed cases shaped like magic wands and filming themselves tapping the wand against a contactless payment terminal.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

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

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

From Science Daily ● Mar. 22, 2026

The expansion of contactless payments on trains has caused the price of travelling on some services to soar as they now require more expensive peak time tickets.

From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025