# receipt

/ɹiˈsit/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/receipt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. proof of purchase

noun · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: a written or electronic acknowledgment that a specified sum of money or article has been received.

- Make sure you keep your receipt in case you need to return the shirt.
- The customer requested a detailed receipt to ensure she could claim the business expenses on her annual tax return.

### 2. the act of receiving

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the act of getting something that was sent to you.

For teachers: the formal act of receiving something, or the state of having been received.

- We will send the goods immediately upon receipt of your payment.
- The department confirmed the receipt of the application, though they noted that several supporting documents were still missing from the file.

### 3. evidence of wrongdoing

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

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

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

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

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

### 4. total money received

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

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

For teachers: the total amount of money received by a business or government over a specific period.

- The cinema's box office receipts were much higher this weekend.
- 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. to mark as paid

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

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

For teachers: to mark a bill as paid or to provide a formal written acknowledgment of payment.

- The clerk will receipt your invoice once the cash is counted.
- The solicitor was careful to receipt the documents immediately to maintain a clear audit trail for the estate's executors.

## Examples

- Keep your receipt in case you need to return the shirt.
- The cashier handed me a receipt after I paid for the groceries with my credit card.
- Auditors require every business expense to be backed by a valid receipt to ensure that the company's financial statements accurately reflect its actual spending.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.