ticket

[ tik-it ]

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.

ticket

/ 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. have tickets on oneself or have got tickets on oneself informal.
   to be conceited

verb

1. to issue or attach a ticket or tickets to
2. informal.
   to earmark for a particular purpose

Derived Forms

• ˈticketing, noun

Other Words From

• ticket·less adjective
• re·ticket verb (used with object)
• un·ticket·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ticket¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ticket¹

C17: from Old French etiquet, from estiquier to stick on, from Middle Dutch steken to stick ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have tickets on oneself, Australian Slang. to be conceited.

More idioms and phrases containing ticket

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

Example Sentences

Wish you could buy a ticket on the Europa Clipper spacecraft that’s on its way to check if there’s living slime on a Jupiterian moon?

From Salon

Lottery tickets will be distributed outside the courthouse from 8 to 9 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times

"To avoid a full theater of people singing along, I got tickets to a 3D screening of 'Wicked' tonight. Infinitely more excited," wrote another fan.

From Salon

The man soon to be first in the line of succession was cut out of the clique — as he seemingly has been since the election of the Trump-Vance ticket two weeks ago.

From Los Angeles Times

The application for tickets is now open on the BBC Shows and Tours website.

From BBC

Related Words

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