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 downside of this feature, Sutter said, is a signal is constantly being emitted from the key fob, similar to a debit card.

From Los Angeles Times

He bluffed, saying he had no debit card.

From Los Angeles Times

The card acts both as both a debit card for instant payments and a credit card to split purchases into installments.

From Barron's

New York’s legal cannabis stores are cash-only—or they take debit cards by running the purchase as a “cashless ATM” transaction instead of a cannabis sale to disguise the purchase.

From The Wall Street Journal

Capital One COF -2.40%decrease; red down pointing triangle is moving its debit cards over to the Discover network after acquiring the network earlier this year.

From The Wall Street Journal