Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

ticker tape

American  

noun

  1. the ribbon of paper on which a ticker prints quotations or news.


ticker tape British  

noun

  1. stock exchange a continuous paper ribbon on which a tape machine automatically prints current stock quotations

  2. (mainly in New York) the showering of the motorcade of a distinguished politician, visiting head of state, etc, with ticker tape as a sign of welcome

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ticker tape

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Four years later, without Cruyff, they reached the final again, only to be beaten by Argentina in extra time under a sky of Buenos Aires ticker tape.

From BBC Jul. 17, 2026

But it’s been 65 years since anyone last used ticker tape.

From MarketWatch Jun. 17, 2026

That probably won’t be enough to impress a new generation of individual investors, who have said the index is about as relevant as paper stock certificates or ticker tape.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 8, 2026

Soon after, ticker tape, Shea Stadium and winning Mets seasons all fell out of style.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 15, 2024

Curls of ticker tape in the national colors coiled along the yardsticks of our gala dinner.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training