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

Federal workers are showing up to work only to find their key cards deactivated. —Lluvia Gaucin, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025

The next tier, Signature Membership, is for $1,000 a year and offers first-dibs on reservations and key card access, as well as discounts to Cascade Hotel and Sojourn Spa. —Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2025

We were handed hotel key cards right on the train, eliminating the need to check in upon arrival. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2025

Entrances off elevator banks are controlled by key cards — measures aimed at keeping corporate assets in, not shooters out. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 29 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for key card

• asgard
• backyard
• barnyard
• blackguard
• bombard
• brickyard
• canard
• churchyard
• coastguard
• courtyard
• debarred
• diehard