debit card

debit card

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Pronunciation

/ˈdɛbɪt kɑːrd/

• deb-: /dɛb/ - /d/ (voiced dental/alveolar plosive), /ɛ/ (open-mid front unrounded vowel), /b/ (voiced bilabial plosive)

• -it: /ɪt/ - /ɪ/ (near-close near-front unrounded vowel), /t/ (voiceless dental/alveolar plosive)

• card: /kɑːrd/ - /k/ (voiceless velar plosive), /ɑː/ (open back unrounded vowel), /r/ (voiced alveolar approximant), /d/ (voiced dental/alveolar plosive)

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Word Form Variations

Singular: debit card

Plural: debit cards

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

Debit card

1. A plastic payment card that directly deducts funds from the cardholder's linked bank account when used for purchases or cash withdrawals, as opposed to a credit card which extends a line of credit.

• Synonyms: bank card, check card, ATM card (in some contexts)

• Antonyms: credit card, charge card

2. (Informal) The system or method of payment utilizing such a card.

• Synonyms: direct debit, electronic funds transfer

• Antonyms: cash payment, credit payment

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Examples of Use

Books

• "Before the advent of widespread internet banking, managing your finances often meant a trip to the branch. Now, with a simple debit card and a smartphone, you can control your money from anywhere." (From The Digital Wallet: Navigating Personal Finance in the 21st Century by Sarah Chen, 2023)

• "He fumbled in his wallet for his debit card, hoping he had enough to cover the unexpected expense. The coffee shop, though quaint, was surprisingly pricey." (From Urban Chronicles: A Modern Day Tale by David Miller, 2020)

Newspapers

• "Local businesses in Ruiru are reporting a significant increase in customers opting to pay with debit cards over cash, reflecting a growing trend towards cashless transactions across Kenya." (From The Daily Nation, June 25, 2025)

• "Police are warning the public about a new scam involving fraudulent debit card readers at ATMs, urging users to inspect machines carefully before use." (From The Standard, June 20, 2025)

Online Publications

• "Choosing the right debit card can save you money on fees and offer better rewards. Our comprehensive guide helps you compare options from various banks." (From Investopedia.com, "Best Debit Cards of 2025," accessed June 28, 2025)

• "With the rise of mobile payment apps, many wonder if the traditional debit card will become obsolete. Experts weigh in on its enduring relevance." (From TechCrunch.com, "Is Your Debit Card Becoming a Dinosaur?", published April 15, 2025)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

• Television Series (Drama): (Character on screen at a store) "Do you accept debit card? My credit card got declined." (From a recent episode of "Nairobi Justice," KTN Home, aired May 2025)

• Film (Comedy): (Character pulls out a worn-out card) "This old debit card has seen more transactions than I've had hot meals. Don't worry, it's still good!" (From the movie "The Hustle," 2022)

• Podcast (Finance/Advice): "One of the simplest ways to avoid debt is to stick to your debit card. If the money isn't in your account, you can't spend it." (From "Money Matters with Mark," Episode 72, released June 10, 2025)

• Video Game (Simulation): (On-screen prompt for purchasing in-game items) "Please enter your debit card details to complete the transaction." (From "City Builder Tycoon," 2024)

General Public Discourse

• Conversation at a Cafe (Ruiru): "I prefer using my debit card these days. It's just easier than carrying cash, and I can track my spending better." (Overheard at a cafe in Ruiru, June 27, 2025)

• Social Media Post (X/Twitter): "Just paid for my groceries with my debit card and got instant notification of the transaction. Love how convenient banking has become! #Cashless #Fintech" (@KenyaSmartPay, June 26, 2025)

• Customer Service Call: "Hello, I seem to have misplaced my debit card. Can you tell me if there have been any recent transactions?" (Recorded typical customer service interaction)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Debit Card

1. "A debit card is like a superhero: it helps you spend your money, but only the money you actually have." (Attributed to personal finance blogger "The Savvy Spender," though exact source is obscure)

2. "In the digital age, your debit card is often your handshake with the global economy." (Original quote)

3. "The best way to get out of debt is to live on a debit card — if you don't have the money, you don't spend it." (Lesser-known personal finance advice, often repeated in financial literacy workshops)

4. "Credit is a drug, and a debit card is the sobriety chip." (Original quote, metaphorical)

5. "I often tell people: 'If you can't pay for it with your debit card, you probably can't afford it.'" (Attributed to various financial advisors in online articles, e.g., NerdWallet.com type publications, but no single famous source)

6. "Think of your debit card as a direct line to your discipline." (Original quote)

7. "Cash is king, but the debit card is a powerful queen in the modern financial game." (Lesser-known financial maxim)

8. "My debit card is my reality check." (Original quote)

9. "The convenience of a debit card should not overshadow the importance of knowing what's in your account." (Lesser-known quote from consumer finance education materials)

10. "A debit card is a tool for financial freedom, not just financial transaction." (Original quote)

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Etymology

• Debit: This word comes from the Latin word "debitum," which means "something owed" or "a debt." This Latin word itself comes from "debere," meaning "to owe." The basic idea behind "debere" was "to keep something away from someone," hinting at money being kept away until it's paid back. In accounting, "debit" came to mean an entry that reduces a balance or shows money taken out. So, when you use a debit card, money is "debited" (taken out) from your account. The word "debit" in an accounting sense has been around since the mid-15th century, and as a verb meaning "to charge with a debt," since the 1680s.

• Card: This word has roots in the Old French word "carte" and the Medieval Latin "carta/charta," referring to paper, a writing, or a tablet. Over time, it came to mean a stiff piece of paper or plastic used for various purposes, including identification or transactions.

So, when you put them together, a debit card is essentially a "card" that allows you to make a "debit" from your bank account.

The first known use of the combined term "debit card" is relatively recent, appearing in the 1970s. The Oxford English Dictionary specifically cites its earliest evidence from 1975. However, the concept of directly accessing funds from a bank account using a card started earlier. For example, the Bank of Delaware launched a pilot project involving debit cards in 1966. In its initial form, what we now call a debit card was often just an "ATM card," primarily used for withdrawing cash from Automated Teller Machines, which also started appearing around that time (the first ATM in the U.S. was in 1969). It wasn't until later in the 1970s and especially the 1980s and 1990s that debit cards became widely used for direct purchases at stores.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Debit Card

1. "Swipe your debit card and go." (A common, literal instruction related to a quick transaction.)

2. "Living on a debit card budget." (Meaning: Strictly spending only money you have in your account, implying financial discipline.)

3. "My debit card is my financial leash." (Original phrase, meaning: It keeps one's spending in check.)

4. "Show me your debit card, show me your discipline." (Original phrase, emphasizing financial responsibility.)

5. "Maxing out the debit card." (Lesser-known, slightly humorous, and contradictory. Unlike a credit card, you can't truly 'max out' a debit card beyond your balance, so it implies draining the account or hitting zero.)

6. "A debit card reality check." (Original phrase, meaning: The moment you realize you don't have enough funds for a purchase.)

7. "Plastic money" (Idiom using a synonym, referring broadly to payment cards like debit and credit cards.)

8. "Cash is king, but plastic's the emperor." (Idiom using a synonym, acknowledging the widespread use and power of cards over cash.)

9. "Pay with your own money." (A concept that a debit card embodies, rather than taking on debt.)

10. "Run the card." (A common, informal phrase used by merchants for processing any payment card, including a debit card.)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of debit card from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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