playing card

American  

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of playing card

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

The new device replaces the traditional chest piece with a device around the size of a playing card.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025

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

There’s wide speculation on how playing cards eventually made it to Europe, playing card historian Peter Endebrock told Atlas Obscura in 2020.

From National Geographic • Nov. 3, 2023

Games correspond to playing card suits: Spades are physical competitions, and clubs require teamwork.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2022

Quinn slipped a photograph from its envelope, turned it like a playing card, and skidded it across the desk.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck