Hard inquiry.
In plain English
When you formally apply for credit, a credit card, an auto loan, a mortgage, the lender pulls your full credit report to evaluate you. That pull is a 'hard inquiry' (or 'hard pull'). It typically drops your score by a few points and stays on your report for about two years, though its impact on your score fades much faster (usually within 6-12 months).
01Why it matters
If you apply for several cards or loans in a short window, the hard inquiries pile up and your score can drop noticeably, exactly when you don't want it to (right when you're being evaluated). Knowing the difference between a hard pull and a soft pull saves you from accidentally hurting your own application.
02The math, step by step
You apply for three credit cards in one week to chase signup bonuses. Each application generates a hard inquiry. Your score drops about 10-15 points temporarily. If you'd applied for a mortgage immediately after, you might get a higher rate or even a denial.
03What this is NOT
A soft inquiry happens when you check your own score, when an existing lender peeks at your credit, or when a credit card company pre-screens you for offers. Soft inquiries don't affect your score and aren't visible to other lenders. Hard inquiries do affect your score and are visible.
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