What does a credit score measure?

A credit score primarily functions as a numerical expression of a person's creditworthiness, which reflects how likely they are to repay borrowed money. It is calculated based on various factors including payment history, outstanding debt, length of credit history, types of credit used, and recent credit inquiries. This score is vital for lenders as it helps them assess the risk of lending to an individual—higher scores generally suggest that a person is more likely to manage their debts responsibly.

The other options, while related to financial aspects, do not capture the essence of what a credit score represents. For instance, total debt load refers to how much debt an individual has, which can influence the credit score but doesn't constitute the score itself. Similarly, average income relates to a person's earnings but does not directly correlate with how they manage credit. Lastly, the amount of available credit pertains to how much credit is accessible to an individual, yet it is just one component that can affect the overall credit score rather than the score itself. Thus, the most accurate definition in this context is the numerical expression of creditworthiness.