card-car·ry·ing \¦ ̷ ̷ ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ \adjective Etymology: so called from the assumption that such a member carries a membership card 1.: being a full-fledged member especially of a Communist party 2. a.: being strongly identified with a group (as of people with a common interest) < card-carrying members of the ecology movement — Richard Neuhaus > b.: characterized as having a clear specific identity < card-carrying skeptics — Junius Ellis >