In plain English
This is the room-opening item in card form, not a traditional key. It is usually made of plastic. You use it to open a hotel room door.
In context
Here, "Key card" labels the card used instead of a key to open the hotel room door during the stay.
- Situation
- Booking hotels, reading room and rate labels, checking in, and using amenities
- What it communicates
- labels the room-access item used during the stay.
Meaning limits
The term itself identifies the item, not its current status or any rights linked to it.
Examples
“At check-in, the clerk handed her a key card instead of a metal key for her hotel room.”
“Before leaving for breakfast, she slipped the key card into her wallet.”