receipt

American  

[ri-seet] / rɪˈsit /

noun

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

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

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; 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

As part of a Justice Department investigation into $1.2 billion of embezzled oil funds, a Swiss banker said he met “Los Chamos” in Caracas in 2017 to arrange their receipt of a $200 million cut.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Highflying Korean tech company SK Hynix said Wednesday it’s planning to list in the U.S. in 2026 and has already filed for an American depositary receipt listing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

As the season goes on, the list of reasons for “How’s That?!” to faceplant rivals the length of a CVS receipt; perversely, the odds that it’ll be a hit improve.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

From what I understand, a distribution is mandatory; deferring receipt does not exempt one from the requirement.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

The girl gave him his cash back, and put the purchase on the card, and then gave him the card receipt and took his cash, then returned the cash and took a different card.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

• certificate
• voucher