green card

American  

noun

• green cards
  plural

1. an official card, originally green, issued by the U.S. government to foreign nationals permitting them to work in the U.S.

---

green card British  

noun

1. an official permit allowing the holder permanent residence and employment, issued to foreign nationals in the US

2. an insurance document covering motorists against accidents abroad

3. social welfare (in Britain) an identification card issued by the Manpower Services Commission to a disabled person, to show registration for employment purposes and eligibility for special services See also handicap register registered disabled

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• green-carder
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• green cards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of green card

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

green card

They’ve pleaded not guilty, with the mother saying in an interview with investigators that she thought having a green card meant she could vote.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Ten of the 11 people arrested on Wednesday were naturalized US citizens originally from China while the other was a green card holder.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

In previous years, Ruiz and Kindelán said they would have headed for the U.S., where Cubans have long enjoyed a fast-track to a green card.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

During the deliberations on the proposal, it also was not clear whether the change would apply to green card holders, recipients of Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals or other categories of noncitizens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026

At window four, Apa doesn’t speak, just hands over my green card to the young black man in the same dark blue wool sweater.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na