punch card

American  

Or punchcard,

noun

1. a card having holes punched in specific positions and patterns so as to represent data to be stored or processed mechanically, electrically, or photoelectrically.

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Etymology

Origin of punch card

First recorded in 1940–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

punch card

I began gently optimizing my library use the way someone might optimize a coffee-shop punch card.

From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026

The flavor of the milk tea, the atmosphere on Sawtelle, the street, and the punch card at Volcano Tea House makes it special there.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Store loyalty programs used to be simple: You’d get a punch card at a local sub shop, buy eight sandwiches and get your ninth for free.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 16, 2025

The men running the hastily reconfigured computation lab had ordered a collection of IBM punch card accounting machines, which were almost identical to the type of machines Naomi had been using back at Princeton.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 3, 2023

“It is recommended,” Mr. Saltman said flatly, “that the use of pre-scored punch card ballots be ended.”

From New York Times ● May 5, 2023

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