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.
Most had a green card but had lost it. Anna-Catherine Brigida, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026 Khalil, a green card holder who is married to an American citizen, was released from ICE custody last June following his arrest by federal agents in New York City in March 2025. Armando Garcia, ABC News, 26 May 2026 New federal policy could force thousands of people living legally in the United States — including many in the Chicago area — to leave the country or lose their shot at a green card. Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 24 May 2026 Experts and attorneys warned that forcing people from those countries to return home to apply for a green card would result in them being barred from coming back. Rebecca Santana, Fortune, 23 May 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Green card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20card. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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

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