credit score: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to formal; common in business, personal finance, and legal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “credit score” mean?
A number that represents a person's financial trustworthiness, based on their history of borrowing and repaying money, used by lenders to assess the risk of lending to them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A number that represents a person's financial trustworthiness, based on their history of borrowing and repaying money, used by lenders to assess the risk of lending to them.
Beyond financial lending, a credit score can be a metaphor for trustworthiness or reliability in other contexts, and it can influence access to housing, insurance premiums, and employment prospects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept and term are identical. The major credit reference agencies differ (e.g., Experian, Equifax, TransUnion operate in both, but FICO is a US-centric scoring model). In the UK, 'credit rating' is often used synonymously with 'credit score'.
Connotations
Slightly more central to daily financial life in the US, where it is used for a wider array of checks (e.g., renting apartments, getting mobile phone contracts). In the UK, it is critically important but the cultural discourse around specific numbers is slightly less intense.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, but marginally higher in American English due to its pervasive use.
Grammar
How to Use “credit score” in a Sentence
HAVE a credit scoreGET a credit scoreLOWER/RAISE your credit scoreYour credit score IS [number/adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “credit score” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Lenders will credit-score you before offering a loan.
American English
- The bank credit-scored all applicants automatically.
adverb
British English
- [Rarely used as an adverb]
American English
- [Rarely used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The credit-score check is a standard part of the process.
American English
- She reviewed the credit-score report carefully.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The loan application was approved due to the applicant's strong credit score.
Academic
The study correlated socioeconomic status with aggregate community credit scores.
Everyday
I need to check my credit score before applying for a new mortgage.
Technical
The proprietary algorithm generates a credit score by weighting payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%), and credit mix (10%).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “credit score”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “credit score”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “credit score”
- Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'I have good credit score'). Correct: 'I have a good credit score.' Confusing 'credit score' (the number) with 'credit report' (the detailed document).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies by scoring model. In common US FICO scores (300-850), 670-739 is good, 740-799 is very good, and 800+ is excellent. In the UK, scores vary by agency (e.g., Experian's scale is 0-999).
Pay all bills on time, keep credit card balances low relative to their limits, avoid opening several new credit accounts quickly, and maintain a mix of different credit types over a long period.
No, checking your own score results in a 'soft inquiry,' which does not affect your score. Only 'hard inquiries' made by lenders when you apply for credit can cause a small, temporary decrease.
A credit report is a detailed history of your credit accounts and payment behaviour. A credit score is a numerical summary calculated from the data in your credit report.
A number that represents a person's financial trustworthiness, based on their history of borrowing and repaying money, used by lenders to assess the risk of lending to them.
Credit score is usually neutral to formal; common in business, personal finance, and legal contexts. in register.
Credit score: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɛdɪt skɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɛdɪt skɔr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a strong idiom source]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it like a GRADE for how well you handle borrowed money. A high SCORE means you're CREDIBLE with CREDIT.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL HEALTH IS A NUMERICAL GRADE/SCORE; TRUSTWORTHINESS IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a credit score?