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
• 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

Apple showcased how AI can be used to point at a receipt and split bills at group dinners or events.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

On an adjusted basis, it lost 9 cents per American depository receipt.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

The hospital’s receipt of a grand jury subpoena suggests that the DOJ has launched a criminal investigation into providers, which introduces the possibility of future jail time, prosecution and even charges.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

More than half of this is spent on the Adult Disability Payment, and the Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts that one million Scots will be in receipt of a disability payment of some kind by 2031.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

When they got back to Megan's house, Jessie tucked the receipt in her lock box, right next to her comment card.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

Related Words

• certificate
• voucher