WordGarden.ioticket
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈɪkɪt/
US
- /ˈtɪkət/
Meanings
Noun
a pass or proof of purchase for travel, entry, or a reserved seat
an official notice of a traffic, parking, or similar violation
a recorded support request or issue in a tracking system
More meaningsFewer meanings
a group of candidates running together in an election
Verb
to issue someone an official traffic or parking citation
Beyond the definition
A ticket is not just a small piece of paper, or now a digital code. It usually shows that you have the right to enter, travel, or receive a service. A train ticket gives you a ride, a concert ticket lets you into the show, and a parking ticket tells you that you must pay a fine.
The word is also common in modern work and online systems. If your computer stops working, you might open a support ticket so someone can fix the problem. It can also be used in a figurative way: "Her talent was her ticket to success." In all these cases, the idea is simple: it is something that gives access, records a request, or marks an official action.
A ticket is fundamentally a record—physical or digital—that entitles the holder to a specific right, such as travel, entry, or service. Historically, tickets were small slips of paper printed with details like dates and seat numbers. Today, they increasingly exist as digital barcodes scanned from a smartphone.
The most common use cases involve events and transportation. Movie, theatre, and sports tickets grant access to entertainment, while plane, train, and bus tickets authorize travel. However, the term also extends into legal and professional realms. A parking ticket or speeding ticket is a formal notice that a rule has been broken and that a fine may follow. In the corporate world, a "ticket" refers to a tracked request for technical assistance or a record of a problem to be solved.
There are also specific political and idiomatic uses. In politics, a "ticket" refers to a single choice on a ballot that includes a list of candidates from the same party. Figuratively, the word often describes a means to an end; someone's hard work might be their "ticket to a better life." You might also hear the phrase "that's the ticket," meaning something is exactly what is needed for a particular purpose.
The word comes from an older French term referring to a label or small note attached to something. Over time, that simple idea grew into a broader sense of permission, record, or notice. So, whether you are holding a digital boarding pass, reporting a technical problem, or voting for a political slate, a "ticket" represents your recognized place in a system—a key to experience, responsibility, and opportunity.
Examples
- 1
Concert
I bought two tickets for the concert online.
- 2
Train travel
You can buy a train ticket at the machine or on the app.
- 3
Journey
Keep your ticket with you until the end of the journey.
- 4
Event demand
Tickets for the final sold out in minutes.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Lottery
She checked the numbers on her lottery ticket three times.
- 6
Parking fine
He got a parking ticket for leaving his car in a no-parking zone.
- Phraseparking ticket
an official notice that says you must pay a fine
- 7
Online support
I opened a support ticket because I couldn't log in to my account.
- Phrasesupport ticket
a formal request for help, especially online or at work
- 8
Opportunity
For many young players, this tournament is their ticket to a professional career.
- Patternticket to + opportunity
something that makes that opportunity possible
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- ticketnounverb
Forms
- ticketspluralnounverb
- ticketing-ing formverbnoun
- ticketedpast tenseverbnoun