ticket

[tik-it]

noun

1. a slip, usually of paper or cardboard, serving as evidence that the holder has paid a fare or admission or is entitled to some service, right, or the like.

   a railroad ticket; a theater ticket.

2. a summons issued for a traffic or parking violation.

3. a written or printed slip of paper, cardboard, etc., affixed to something to indicate its nature, price, or the like; label or tag.

4. a slate of candidates nominated by a particular party or faction and running together in an election.

5. the license of a ship's officer or of an aviation pilot.

6. Banking.,  a preliminary recording of transactions prior to their entry in more permanent books of account.

7. Informal.,  the proper or advisable thing.

   That's the ticket! Warm milk and toast is just the ticket for you.

8. Archaic.,  a placard.

9. Obsolete.,  a short note, notice, or memorandum.

verb (used with object)

1. to attach a ticket to; distinguish by means of a ticket; label.

2. to furnish with a ticket, as on the railroad.

3. to serve with a summons for a traffic or parking violation.

4. to attach such a summons to.

   to ticket illegally parked cars.

ticket

/ ˈtɪkɪt /

noun

1. 1. a piece of paper, cardboard, etc, showing that the holder is entitled to certain rights, such as travel on a train or bus, entry to a place of public entertainment, etc

   2. (modifier) concerned with or relating to the issue, sale, or checking of tickets

      a ticket office

      ticket collector

2. a piece of card, cloth, etc, attached to an article showing information such as its price, size, or washing instructions

3. a summons served for a parking offence or violation of traffic regulations

4. informal,  the certificate of competence issued to a ship's captain or an aircraft pilot

5. the group of candidates nominated by one party in an election; slate

6. the declared policy of a political party at an election

7. informal,  a certificate of discharge from the armed forces

8. informal,  the right or appropriate thing

   that's the ticket

9. informal,  to be conceited

verb

1. to issue or attach a ticket or tickets to

2. informal,  to earmark for a particular purpose

Other Word Forms

• ticketless adjective
• reticket verb (used with object)
• unticketed adjective
• ticketing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ticket¹

1520–30; 1925–30 ticket for def. 4; earlier tiket < Middle French etiquet memorandum. See etiquette

Word History and Origins

Origin of ticket¹

C17: from Old French etiquet, from estiquier to stick on, from Middle Dutch steken to _stick ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have tickets on oneself, to be conceited.

see just the ticket; meal ticket; split ticket; straight ticket; write one's own ticket.

Example Sentences

If you were lucky enough to snag tickets for either of the shows — or shelled out on resale — there are some crucial details to note before making the trek to Pasadena.

From Los Angeles Times

Reform's annual conference takes place this weekend in Birmingham, with 5,500 tickets reportedly already sold.

From BBC

Levy also invited widespread criticism when he used the Government's furlough scheme during the Covid pandemic, then when he phased out concession tickets for seniors.

From BBC

No one won the ticket that matched all six numbers drawn on Wednesday: white balls 3, 16, 29, 61, 69 and red Powerball 22.

From Los Angeles Times

Visitors can book return tickets in advance for £13 or £9 for singles.

From BBC

Related Words

• admission 
• card 
• certificate 
• check 
• coupon 
• document 
• license 
• paper 
• passport 
• permit 
• receipt 
• record 
• sticker 
• voucher