receipt

American  

[ri-seet] / rɪˈsit /

noun

• receipts
  plural

1. a written acknowledgment of having received, or taken into one's possession, a specified amount of money, goods, etc.

2. receipts, the amount or quantity received.

   Economic austerity diminished the government’s tax receipts.

3. the act of receiving or the state of being received.

   We are in receipt of your letter requesting a copy of the report.

4. something that is received.

5. Slang. receipts, evidence or proof.

   There's no way he's a crook—show me the receipts!

6. Archaic. recipe.

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verb (used with object)

1. to acknowledge in writing the payment of (a bill).

   The check was dated January 9, and the invoice was receipted on January 15.

2. to give a receipt for (money, goods, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to give a receipt, as for money or goods.

receipt British  

/ rɪˈsiːt /

noun

1. a written acknowledgment by a receiver of money, goods, etc, that payment or delivery has been made

2. the act of receiving or fact of being received

3. (usually plural) an amount or article received

4. archaic another word for recipe

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verb

1. (tr) to acknowledge payment of (a bill), as by marking it

2. to issue a receipt for (money, goods, etc)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreceipt
  noun
• prereceipt
  verb (used with object)
• unreceipted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• receipts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of receipt

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English receite, receyt, from Anglo-French, from Old French recete, reçoite, recoite or directly from Medieval Latin recepta “money received, receipt, recipe,” feminine past participle of recipere “to receive,” from Latin; see origin at receive

Explanation

You know that slim, white piece of paper the grocery store clerk gives you that lists everything you bought, how much you paid, and the change you received? That's a receipt. A receipt is proof you bought and paid for something. At most stores, you need it if you're going to return what you bought. People collect receipts on business trips, so their employers will pay them back for what they purchased while away. Less commonly, receipt can be used as a verb, as in, "The clerk receipted my purchases," meaning that the clerk gave written proof that the items were paid for.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

receipt receipts

Suggested actions will pop up automatically for certain items: Snap a snack or dish to see its nutritional value; snap a receipt to calculate how to split the bill.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

While Congress can condition a state’s receipt of federal funds on compliance with specified conditions, there are limitations to this power.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

There was no receipt involved, no running lifetime total for Toasters Not Purchased.

From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026

A spokesperson for the Swedish Migrations Agency said previously: "We can confirm receipt of a case of an impediments to enforcement which the agency now will process."

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Instead, his gaze drifted over Michael’s shoulder and landed on Jamar Prince, who was walking toward them holding three Butterfingers and a crumpled receipt.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

And while higher inflation means higher interest costs, it also means higher cash tax receipts, at a time when thresholds continue to be frozen.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Alibaba American depositary receipts rose after the Chinese online bazaar launched a new, high-powered chip, furthering its AI ambitions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

One more thought: By paying the customer’s bills, they get to have a free meal, but the restaurant still gets paid for the day’s receipts.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

Molina’s responsibilities in the nonprofit included co-signing checks, keeping records of receipts and expenditures, making disbursements approved by the board, receiving dues and providing financial statements to the board, according to the indictment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Mrs. Williams digs in her purse and pulls out one of those long receipts that you get at the drugstore that has more coupons on it than anything.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• certificate
• voucher