contactless

American  

[kon-takt-lis] / ˈkɒn tækt lɪs /

adjective

1. noting or relating to RFID technology or devices that use radio waves to relay identifying information to an electronic reader, so that the device does not need to be in direct contact with the reader.

   contactless credit and debit cards.

2. of or relating to an activity or interaction in which people do not touch one another or come into close proximity.

   contactless food delivery.

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contactless British  

/ ˈkɒntæktlɪs /

adjective

1. without contacts

2. referring to payment systems which use RFID technology and do not require the customer's signature or pin number

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Etymology

Origin of contactless

First recorded in 2000–05; contact + -less

Example Sentences

This could lead to technologies such as frictional metamaterials, adaptive damping systems, and contactless control components.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

This is because discounts for railcards or children cannot be registered with contactless.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

Tickets can be bought online or at the fountain with cards or other contactless payment methods, officials said.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

That would make entering a PIN even more of a rarity, as smartphones - with extra in-built security - already have no limit on contactless payments via a digital wallet.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

Banks, and some BBC readers, say consumers should be able to set their own contactless limits, as debate on the issue picks up ahead of a final decision later in the year.

From BBC • Sep. 13, 2025