identity card

American  

noun

1. a card for identifying the bearer, giving name, address, and other personal data.

---

identity card British  

noun

1. a card that establishes a person's identity, esp one issued to all members of the population in wartime, to the staff of an organization, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of identity card

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Using his City of London police identity card, Wai threatened to arrest a protester who was campaigning against Hui's visit, even though he had no official policing role that day.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Hussain Ahmed, 20, whose family lives in Machhar Colony, one of Karachi's largest slum areas where most of the population is comprised of Bengalis, does not have Pakistani nationality or an identity card.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Costa, whose family hails from Goa, proudly flashed his Indian identity card at a press conference where Modi celebrated him as "the Gandhi of Lisbon".

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

He was treated well, he said, but when he and other officers went back weeks later to claim an identity card, they were told to await instructions.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

Hugo calmly reached into his pocket and brought out his identity card.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler