index card

noun

1. a card, often relatively small, as 3 × 5 inches (7.6 × 12.7 centimeters), used in noting or recording information and usually filed in an index.

Word History and Origins

Origin of index card¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The tutors paste an image of a word on one side of an index card and spell out the word on the other side.

From Washington Post

He argues that personal finance is so simple all you need to know can fit on an index card.

From Freakonomics

It’s kind of a nonromantic speed date, the only prop a stack of index cards arranged between you.

From Washington Post

Westgate said she used to keep index cards on hand with possible ideas but has since started keeping notes on her phone.

From Washington Post

In his shirt pocket, there were index cards, where he habitually took notes on issues needing attention, ranging from a leaky pipe somewhere in a building to parents who needed to be called with news about their son — good or bad.

From Washington Post

Back then, they would write down examples of a word on an index card and mail it to the editors.

From The Daily Beast

When the numerical index is adopted, an alphabetical index card with cross-references, including the docket index, is used.

From Project Gutenberg

See—adjustable to hold with perfect ease an envelope, an index card, or a strip of paper no wider than a postage stamp.

From Project Gutenberg

This is an index card, and is placed in the front of the file.

From Project Gutenberg

A follow-up of the claims is provided by a plain index card on which is written the name of the debtor and number of the claim.

From Project Gutenberg

An index card is then filled in with the name of the subject and the number of the folder, and filed alphabetically.

From Project Gutenberg