playing card

American  

noun

• playing cards
  plural

1. one of the conventional set of 52 cards in four suits, as diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs, used in playing various games of chance and skill.

2. one of any set or pack of cards used in playing games.

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playing card British  

noun

1. one of a pack of 52 rectangular stiff cards, used for playing a variety of games, each card having one or more symbols of the same kind (diamonds, hearts, clubs, or spades) on the face, but an identical design on the reverse See also suit

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• playing cards
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of playing card

First recorded in 1535–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

playing card

Fans may assume Cong is paying tribute to Batman's notorious arch-enemy the Joker, but the Chinese fighter says her persona is rooted in the joker playing card that inspired the comic-book villain.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Also lost were performance posters, a bust of Schoenberg and ephemera such as the fanciful playing card sets the composer designed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025

STAHLS’ personalizes two jerseys for each draft pick, including one handed to the player onstage and another that is used as part of his rookie playing card pack.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 22, 2024

Today, the 52-card French deck is the most famous playing card deck.

From National Geographic ● Nov. 3, 2023

I grab the paper-wrapped book with an illustration of a criminal running away, holding an oversized playing card, a heart: “Heart Stealer.”

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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