playing card

noun

play·​ing card ˈplā-iŋ- How to pronounce playing card (audio)
: one of a set of 24 to 78 thin rectangular pieces of cardboard or plastic marked on one side to show its rank and suit and used in playing any of numerous games

Examples of playing 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.
The games are divided into four categories represented by suits on a deck of playing cards. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024 The silhouettes of the CEOs on the playing cards are in the shape of target practice, echoing the shooting on December 4 where Thompson was shot and killed in New York. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024 The killers stuffed the playing card, with a club suit that looked like a plum blossom, down her back along with a note written in Chinese, saying her family failed to pay the ransom and taunting cops to find them. John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024 The solution to that problem comes in the form of a two-story building that used to be a playing card manufacturing plant in Nintendo’s hometown of Kyoto. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for playing card 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of playing card was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near playing card

Cite this Entry

“Playing card.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playing%20card. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

playing card

noun
: any of a set of cards marked to show rank and suit (as spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs) and used in playing games

More from Merriam-Webster on playing card

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