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
Morrill Hall has an open lobby but requires key cards to enter elevators to get to dorm rooms.The Associated Press State & Local Wire
… a plan to buy a $1 million key card voting system …Hillary Chabot

Examples of key 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.
In a particularly charming touch, Gardiner House keeps things old school with real metal room keys, as opposed to key cards. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026 That includes Archetype Packs that include three key cards for some of the popular decks in the game such as Destroy, On Reveal Combo decks and Discard. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 The Folsom Business Center discovered several laptops, key cards and other supplies were missing in late April, sparking a police investigation. Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 2 May 2026 Smith went to the hotel’s reception in the early hours of the morning and was handed a key card, according to the outlet. Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for key card

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of key card was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Key card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20card. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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