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 If the application is pending at the U.S. National Visa Center, such as a petition for a green card for a relative, applicants may contact the center at https://nvc.state.gov/inquiry to request a transfer to another immigrant visa processing post. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024 But as Lemon points out, undocumented immigrants can’t vote, nor can legal immigrants who are here on visas, or people with green cards. Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2024 Ibarra’s brother, Diego Ibarra, was also arrested for allegedly possessing a fake green card, WSB-TV, ABC 7 Chicago and WSB Radio report, citing authorities with the U.S. Department of Justice. Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 Ibarra’s brother, Diego, was charged Friday with possessing a fraudulent green card and is being held in state custody. Adam Shaw, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2024 But the credit union conditioned the approval on Rodriguez Perez having a green card, which only permanent residents have, not DACA recipients. Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 5 Jan. 2024 Refugees must apply for a green card within a year of arrival in the United States. Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024 On the Palestinian side, about 300 U.S. citizens, holders of green cards or their close relatives remain trapped inside Gaza, the State Department has said, and frantic relatives continue to press to get them out. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2023 Asylees have to wait a year after being granted asylum to apply for green cards, and at least five more years after that before applying for citizenship. Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 25 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'green card.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near green card

Cite this Entry

“Green card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20card. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

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

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