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

Earlier this month, Fitch Ratings upgraded CK Hutchison’s credit rating, citing progress in paring down debt.

From The Wall Street Journal • 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

CoreWeave has a B+ credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, meaning that the company’s debt is rated four notches below the investment-grade threshold.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

The parent company has an investment-grade credit rating.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton was a warm woman with a soft voice and close-cropped hair who worked in customer service at a credit rating company.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama