green card

noun

: an identity card attesting the permanent resident status of an alien in the U.S.
green-carder noun

Examples of green card in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Federal authorities have pointed to past convictions on charges of assault and unlawful possession of a firearm that resulted in him losing his green card as the justification for his detainment. MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 It’s recommended to make copies of passport ID’s, green cards, I-94 work authorization forms, birth certificates for themselves and their children and any other relevant forms that could be useful to an immigration attorney, Velasquez said. Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 Immigration judges are the only ones who can revoke someone's green card or issue a final order of removal for people who have been in the country for more than two years and are in the process of being deported. NPR, 24 Oct. 2025 Khalil, a green card holder married to an American citizen, was arrested by ICE agents in New York City in March. Ely Brown, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for green card

Word History

Etymology

from the fact that it was formerly colored green

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of green card was in 1956

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Green card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20card. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

Legal Definition

green card

noun
: an identity card attesting the permanent resident status of an alien in the U.S.
Etymology

from the fact that it was formerly colored green

More from Merriam-Webster on green card

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