ticket

American  

[tik-it] / ˈtɪk ɪt /

noun

1. a slip, usually of paper or cardboard, serving as evidence that the holder has paid a fare or admission or is entitled to some service, right, or the like.

   a railroad ticket; a theater ticket.

2. a summons issued for a traffic or parking violation.

3. a written or printed slip of paper, cardboard, etc., affixed to something to indicate its nature, price, or the like; label or tag.

4. a slate of candidates nominated by a particular party or faction and running together in an election.

5. the license of a ship's officer or of an aviation pilot.

6. Banking. a preliminary recording of transactions prior to their entry in more permanent books of account.

7. Informal. the proper or advisable thing.

   That's the ticket! Warm milk and toast is just the ticket for you.

8. Archaic. a placard.

9. Obsolete. a short note, notice, or memorandum.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to attach a ticket to; distinguish by means of a ticket; label.

2. to furnish with a ticket, as on the railroad.

3. to serve with a summons for a traffic or parking violation.

4. to attach such a summons to.

   to ticket illegally parked cars.

idioms

1. have tickets on oneself, to be conceited.

ticket British  

/ ˈtɪkɪt /

noun

1. 1. a piece of paper, cardboard, etc, showing that the holder is entitled to certain rights, such as travel on a train or bus, entry to a place of public entertainment, etc

   2. (modifier) concerned with or relating to the issue, sale, or checking of tickets

      a ticket office

      ticket collector

2. a piece of card, cloth, etc, attached to an article showing information such as its price, size, or washing instructions

3. a summons served for a parking offence or violation of traffic regulations

4. informal the certificate of competence issued to a ship's captain or an aircraft pilot

5. the group of candidates nominated by one party in an election; slate

6. the declared policy of a political party at an election

7. informal a certificate of discharge from the armed forces

8. informal the right or appropriate thing

   that's the ticket

9. informal to be conceited

---

verb

1. to issue or attach a ticket or tickets to

2. informal to earmark for a particular purpose

ticket More Idioms  

1. see just the ticket; meal ticket; split ticket; straight ticket; write one's own ticket.

---

Other Word Forms

• reticket verb (used with object)
• ticketing noun
• ticketless adjective
• unticketed adjective

Etymology

Origin of ticket

1520–30; 1925–30 ticket for def. 4; earlier tiket < Middle French etiquet memorandum. See etiquette

Explanation

A ticket is the slip of paper or card you need to be admitted to a movie theater, a museum, or an airplane. Your ticket proves that you've paid or been invited. Other types of tickets include the ones you get as a receipt or bill, and the kind a traffic officer hands you when you're caught driving 40 miles per hour in a 30 MPH zone. In the U.S., ticket is also used to mean "ballot," as in "I'm not excited either of the candidates on that party's ticket." If someone tells you "That's the ticket!", they mean you've made exactly the right choice.

Example Sentences

Posting on Instagram, the company encouraged ticket buyers to use the promo code "TIMOTHEE" for a discount on certain tickets that weekend.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

I also was convinced that sports were my ticket out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The event features yoga, sound healing and dinners as well as disco dancing at a ticket price of Aus$2,699 per person.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

While Barlow is clear no decision has been taken about any first possible release site, wildlife charities are hoping for the golden ticket.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

All I could picture was Mom’s glum face after finding out about Dad’s pricey plane ticket, and Dad’s crushed expression when he’d admitted that he didn’t know when he could replace my broken phone.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• admission
• card
• certificate
• check
• coupon
• document
• license
• paper
• passport
• permit
• receipt
• record
• sticker
• voucher