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

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

When a US judge ruled that Benjamin, a Nigerian green card holder married to an American citizen, was entitled to torture protections, he was looking forward to reuniting with his family.

From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 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

She was marrying Chip for a green card.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

Papá showed them his green card, which Ito, the Japanese sharecropper for whom we picked strawberries, had helped him get years before.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez