swipe card

American  

noun

1. a plastic card with magnetically encoded data that is decoded when passed through a slotted electronic reader, especially for payment or identification purposes.

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swipe card British  

noun

1. a credit card, identity card, etc, with a magnetic strip that holds encoded information that can be electronically interpreted as it is passed through the slot of a machine designed to read it

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Etymology

Origin of swipe card

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Two said that at one point he had his own swipe card, so he could come and go freely.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Tomkinson said the method of staff access to insulin had since changed with a "clear audit trail" provided by a "bespoke swipe card that is absolutely aligned to an individual staff member".

From BBC

Maine authorities have managed to thwart poaching in the state using new controls including a swipe card system meant to deter illegal sales.

From Seattle Times

In 1998 Horizon was being developed by a firm called ICL, owned by Fujitsu, as a way of paying welfare benefits through Post Office counters using a swipe card.

From BBC

On 12 March this year, Harrison fled the ward after a nurse using a swipe card opened a secure door.

From BBC