key card
noun
plural key cards
: a small usually plastic card that contains encoded data to electronically open or access something (such as a door or a system)
Hotel room doors are often accessed by a key card programmed by the front desk.—
Kara Godfrey
Kara GodfreyMorrill Hall has an open lobby but requires key cards to enter elevators to get to dorm rooms.—The Associated Press State & Local Wire
The Associated Press State & Local Wire… a plan to buy a $1 million key card voting system …—Hillary Chabot
Hillary ChabotExamples of key card in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The cyberattack led to hotel key cards and slot machines being disabled, bookings being blocked and employees being locked out of their emails, SFGATE reported.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
The entrance to the building is always locked, and at least one officer guards the stairway down to the safes, where advanced securities are in place, including a fingerprint and iris scanner and an electronic key card reader.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
At one point, Cobos-Martinez went through Nagamallaiah’s pockets and took his phone and a lanyard with a key card, according to the affidavit.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2025
The Pixar Place entrance to DCA was locked behind a gate requiring a hotel key card to enter, according to MiceChat.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key card
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Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
The entrance to the building is always locked, and at least one officer guards the stairway down to the safes, where advanced securities are in place, including a fingerprint and iris scanner and an electronic key card reader.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
At one point, Cobos-Martinez went through Nagamallaiah’s pockets and took his phone and a lanyard with a key card, according to the affidavit.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2025
The Pixar Place entrance to DCA was locked behind a gate requiring a hotel key card to enter, according to MiceChat.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key card
Cite this Entry
“Key card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20card. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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