debit card

American  

noun

1. a plastic card that resembles a credit card but functions like a check and through which payments for purchases or services are made electronically to the bank accounts of participating retailing establishments directly from those of card holders.

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debit card British  

noun

1. an embossed plastic card issued by a bank or building society to enable its customers to pay for goods or services by inserting it into a computer-controlled device at the place of sale, which is connected through the telephone network to the bank or building society. It may also function as a cash card, a cheque card, or both

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Etymology

Origin of debit card

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

The grocery chain agreed to pay $7.4 million in fees to customers who purchased items from March to July 2019 and received receipts showing too many digits of their credit or debit card.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Financial products have been increasingly adding gamelike features that create competition or instant gratification to keep users hooked — and the latest example is a prepaid debit card with a “buy-now-pay-maybe” feature.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Similarly, spending was up 4.8% year over year, according to Bank of America’s credit and debit card data.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

"It's very easy to just give them your debit card and pay it and worry about the cost later, if I've got a gift card I know I can't go over that amount," she says.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

I pull out my debit card and wave it at him.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson