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.
An inability to pay for services on time could negatively affect visa and green card applications. Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 The State Department announcement directly cited Eissa Hashemi’s familial ties to Masoumeh Ebtekar, who also served as Iran’s vice president for women’s affairs, as the reason behind the revocation of his green card. Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026 Others set Chick-fil-A’s logo as their profile picture on social media, sometimes converting it from red to green — as in green card. ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026 Several volunteers have reported that arrests outside immigration hearings and green card interviews have practically stopped, though some still occur during ICE check-ins. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 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 17 Apr. 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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