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

See Examples For:

credit rating

Investors are concerned that the company’s increasing capital expenditures are straining its balance sheet and potentially pushing its credit rating below investment grade.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

That is because the credit rating on each investment generally determines the dollar amount an insurer must set aside to protect against the risk of loss.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

President Nicusor Dan, a pro-European centrist, tried to address people's concerns last weekend after Romania avoided a downgrade of its credit rating by Fitch to "junk", or below investment grade.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Delaware Life executives told one credit rating firm they were unaware the loans were made to entities tied to Walter, the Journal reported.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

You may make a fine employee or deserve low premiums or a good credit rating, but if your correlatives are perceived to be lacking in some way, you’ll have difficulty, too.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos