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

Insurance shoppers can also measure an insurer’s financial strength by checking its credit rating through agencies like A.M.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

So for most bonds, the NAIC’s New York-based investment staff automatically assigns a risk score—and a corresponding capital requirement—based on the bond’s public credit rating.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Fitch Ratings upgraded CK Hutchison’s credit rating, viewing geopolitical risk as manageable and the Panama port issue as minimal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

I’m not sure how much, but now that they’ve parted, his credit rating is wrecked.

From MarketWatch • 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