credit line: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal (business/finance); Neutral (media/publishing)
Quick answer
What does “credit line” mean?
1. The maximum amount of money a financial institution agrees to lend a customer, which can be used repeatedly up to that limit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
1. The maximum amount of money a financial institution agrees to lend a customer, which can be used repeatedly up to that limit. 2. In publishing or media, the acknowledgment of the creator or source of material used.
The term primarily refers to a pre-approved borrowing limit extended by a bank or lender to a customer. In a secondary, distinct sense, it refers to the line of text in a film, book, or article that identifies the author, photographer, or source of quoted material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the financial sense, British English might use 'overdraft facility' or simply 'overdraft' for a similar personal banking product, though 'credit line' is well understood. In the publishing/media sense, 'byline' or 'acknowledgment' can be more common in British media for author attribution, while 'credit line' is standard in US media.
Connotations
Financially, it carries the same formal, contractual connotation in both varieties. In media, it is a standard, neutral technical term.
Frequency
The financial sense is of similar high frequency in both AmE and BrE business contexts. The media sense is slightly more frequent in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “credit line” in a Sentence
[Company/Person] + has/opens/uses + a [size] credit line + with [Bank]The [photo/article] + includes/carries + a credit line + for [Creator]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “credit line” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bank agreed to credit-line the account up to £10,000. (rare)
American English
- They decided to credit-line the new subsidiary. (rare)
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- We reviewed the credit-line terms.
American English
- She has a credit-line account with a major bank.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company secured a £500,000 credit line with their bank to manage cash flow.
Academic
The researcher ensured every chart had a proper credit line citing the original data source.
Everyday
I keep a small credit line for unexpected car repairs.
Technical
The metadata for the digital asset must include a mandatory IPTC credit line field.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “credit line”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “credit line”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “credit line”
- Using 'credit line' to mean a single loan (it's a reusable limit).
- Omitting the hyphen when using it as a compound modifier (e.g., 'credit-line agreement').
- Confusing it with 'letter of credit' (a different financial instrument).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, a traditional loan provides a lump sum upfront with a fixed repayment schedule. A credit line is a pre-approved limit you can draw from as needed, repay, and draw from again.
Typically next to or beneath a photograph, illustration, or quoted text, stating the name of the photographer, artist, or publication it came from.
It means the credit is replenished as you repay what you've borrowed, allowing you to use it repeatedly, similar to a credit card.
Extremely rarely in specialized business jargon (e.g., 'to credit-line an account'). It is almost exclusively used as a noun.
1. The maximum amount of money a financial institution agrees to lend a customer, which can be used repeatedly up to that limit.
Credit line is usually formal (business/finance); neutral (media/publishing) in register.
Credit line: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɛd.ɪt ˌlaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɛd.ɪt ˌlaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live on a (revolving) credit line”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LINE you can draw to access CREDIT (money). Or, the LINE of text that gives someone CREDIT for their work.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS A RESERVOIR (you can draw from the line). ATTRIBUTION IS A LABEL (the credit line labels the source).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a financial credit line?