green card

noun

variants or less commonly Green Card
plural green cards also Green Cards
: an identity card attesting the permanent resident status of an immigrant, refugee, etc. in the U.S.
To become a citizen, people generally have to have a green card for several years, … pass a background check as well as English and civics tests, and take an oath.—Madeleine Ngo
The steps you must take to apply for a Green Card will vary depending on your individual situation.—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
green-carder
ˈgrēn-ˈkär-dər How to pronounce green card (audio)
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.
One plaintiff, a green card holder who lives in Chicago, said that he had been shot in the abdomen by officials under Quero Silva, an injury that left him with psychological scars and nerve damage. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 The appointments are being postponed even as the administration pushes more green card applicants into the consular system. — María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 An Indian grandmother who has held a green card since 2013 and works as a public school special education teacher is in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Georgia facing deportation, federal records show. — Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Military recruiters have also long promoted military service as a pathway to citizenship, including through programs which can allow undocumented relatives of troops to remain in the country while applying for a green card and work authorization. — Catherine Bouvet, ABC News, 24 Aug. 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

Rhymes for green card

See All Rhymes for green card

Browse Nearby Words

green bulbul
green card
green-carder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Green card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20card. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on green card

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about green card

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