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

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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

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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

Comedians John Early and Kate Berlant, respectively dressed as a package of salami and an extra-long pharmacy receipt, judged the costume contest — with Carrie taking home first place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

Perez said she wasn’t able to get her balance restored or money back because she didn’t have the original purchase receipt and had to pay for the items out of her own pocket.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

There is also an American depositary receipt for the company.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

The figures were published, external in the latest register of members' financial interests, in which MPs must report gifts worth more than £300 within 28 days of receipt.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

“Whoa,” says Marcus as he hands a customer their receipt.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

But “Oh, Mary!” has achieved much more than gold statues and box office receipts — it’s a genuine pop-culture phenomenon, a familiar meme and a show beloved by seemingly all demographics.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

So she started photographing shelf tags and checking them against her receipts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

Exxon and Chevron entered Friday with both stocks rising 52% this year, as BP’s American depository receipts have gained 45%.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

Most of England's 14 strategic authorities are led by Labour mayors who have welcomed the move to give them a portion of income tax receipts.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

There were order forms for buying HeLa cells online, receipts, newsletters from Deborah’s church, and seemingly endless copies of the photo of Henrietta, hands on hips.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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Related Words

• certificate
• voucher

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