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

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

If you do discover an unauthorized charge on your debit card, notifying your bank or credit union within two business days of noticing the fraud caps your maximum liability at $50.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

I accepted the disappointment the moment I tapped my debit card: this was not a $16 sandwich.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

It highlighted growth in Venmo and Braintree, as well as PayPal’s debit card and buy now, pay later businesses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

On one visit to New York City, where Woolner’s mother lives in the winter, Woolner lost her debit card and felt anxious about being disconnected, even briefly, from her money.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times