key card
/ˈkiː ˌkɑːrd/
Meaning
A key card is a small plastic card, similar to a credit card, that contains magnetic or digital information to unlock doors. It is widely used in modern hotels and secure office buildings instead of traditional metal keys.
Examples
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Hold your key card against the reader until the light turns green.
Hold your key card against the reader until the light turns green.
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Keep your key card away from your phone, or it might stop working.
Keep your key card away from your phone, or it might stop working.
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She swiped her key card to access the hotel gym.
She swiped her key card to access the hotel gym.
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I need to get a new key card because mine got demagnetized.
I need to get a new key card because mine got demagnetized.
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The office requires all employees to wear their key card on a lanyard.
The office requires all employees to wear their key card on a lanyard.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I forgot my card key in the room.
✓ I forgot my key card in the room.
While understandable, 'key card' (or 'keycard') is the standard word order. 'Card key' is much less common and sounds slightly unnatural to native speakers.
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✗ Open the door with your plastic key.
✓ Open the door with your key card.
Native speakers rarely say 'plastic key'; they use 'key card' or simply 'key' even when it is made of plastic.
Related Expressions
Practice
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You need to tap your ___ on the sensor to open the gate.
💡 A plastic card used instead of a metal key.
Show answer
key card
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The receptionist handed me a plastic ___ and told me my room number.
💡 The digital card used to unlock modern hotel rooms.
Show answer
key card