debit card

American  

noun

• debit cards
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• debit cards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of debit card

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

debit card

Nine in 10 users of mobile wallets have their debit card loaded as their default payment method on their phone, with the remainder having registered their credit card.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

I do something similar with tap to pay; I save my debit card info there, so that I’m not mindlessly racking up little expenses on a credit card.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Starbucks' estimated credit and debit card payment volume fell 17 percent from May to June, according to local data platform firm IGAWorks.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

Because I used a debit card for the transaction, I have since canceled it, and my credit is now frozen across all three bureaus.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

Felix whipped out his replacement debit card and dropped it on the desk.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty