English Reference
noun · verb

receipt

n. · v.
US /ɹiˈsit/ UK /ɹɪsˈiːt/ re·ceipt UK spelling receipt's, receipt's, receipted, receipting

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.a piece of paper or a digital message that proves you have paid for something.

    n.a written or electronic acknowledgment that a specified sum of money or article has been received.

    Simple

    Make sure you keep your receipt in case you need to return the shirt.

    In context

    The customer requested a detailed receipt to ensure she could claim the business expenses on her annual tax return.

    Pitfall
    I asked for a recipe after buying the shoes. I asked for a receipt after buying the shoes.

    A 'recipe' is for cooking food; a 'receipt' is for a business transaction.

    proof of purchasevoucherslip
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    n.the act of getting something that was sent to you.

    n.the formal act of receiving something, or the state of having been received.

    Simple

    We will send the goods immediately upon receipt of your payment.

    In context

    The department confirmed the receipt of the application, though they noted that several supporting documents were still missing from the file.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalSlang

    n.proof, like screenshots or messages, that shows someone did something wrong or lied.

    n.evidence, typically in the form of digital records or documentation, used to prove a person's past actions or statements.

    Simple

    She claimed she never said that, but her sister showed up with the receipts.

    In context

    The journalist promised to publish the receipts, including leaked emails that directly contradicted the politician's public statement.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'receipts'.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is very common in social media and celebrity culture; it implies 'bringing the proof' to an argument.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal

    n.the total amount of money a business takes in during a period of time.

    n.the total amount of money received by a business or government over a specific period.

    Simple

    The cinema's box office receipts were much higher this weekend.

    In context

    The treasury reported that tax receipts had fallen short of projections, leading to a significant budget deficit for the fiscal year.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the plural form 'receipts'.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency FormalTechnical

    v.to write on a bill or sign a paper to show that it has been paid.

    v.to mark a bill as paid or to provide a formal written acknowledgment of payment.

    Simple

    The clerk will receipt your invoice once the cash is counted.

    In context

    The solicitor was careful to receipt the documents immediately to maintain a clear audit trail for the estate's executors.


From Middle English receyt, recorded since c. 1386 as "statement of ingredients in a potion or medicine," from Anglo-Norman or Old Northern French receite (“receipt, recipe”) (1304), altered (by influence of receit (“he receives”), from Latin recipit) from Old French recete, from Latin receptus, perfect passive participle of recipiō, itself from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I take”). The unpronounced p was later inserted to make the word appear closer to its Latin root. Doublet of recept and recipe. False cognate of Persian رسید (resid) (whence Urdu رسید (rasīd)).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin receptus
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated