credit score

American  

[kred-it skawr] / ˈkrɛd ɪt ˌskɔr /

noun

Personal Finance.

1. a numerical ranking of an individual’s financial creditworthiness based on spending and credit history, indicating to potential lenders and credit card issuers the individual’s capacity and likelihood to make timely payments of amounts due on loans or credit cards.

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Etymology

Origin of credit score

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

RentPlus’s website says the service “makes it possible to lift your credit score by simply paying your regular rent on time and enjoy access to ID and fraud protection and financial security-building resources.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

On-time payments have a heavy influence on your credit score, so one easy way to start this process is by applying for a credit card and just using it to pay for gas, Johnston said.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Disclose your credit score, credit-card balances, student loans and any major past financial events, like bankruptcies.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

“Someone who has a killer credit score is still going to have a killer credit score,” Ulzheimer said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026

The player winning the first stroke gets a credit score of 15; for the second he gets 30; for the third 40, and if he wins the fourth he has the game.

From Entertainments for Home, Church and School by Seeger, Frederica