What does "receipt" mean?

1. (proof of purchase) a piece of paper or a digital message that proves you have paid for something. 2. (the act of receiving) the act of getting something that was sent to you. 3. (evidence of wrongdoing) proof, like screenshots or messages, that shows someone did something wrong or lied. 4. (total money received) the total amount of money a business takes in during a period of time. 5. (to mark as paid) to write on a bill or sign a paper to show that it has been paid.

How do you use "receipt"?

Usually used in the plural form 'receipts'. Almost always used in the plural form 'receipts'.

Is it correct to say "I asked for a recipe after buying the shoes."?

No — say "I asked for a receipt after buying the shoes.". A 'recipe' is for cooking food; a 'receipt' is for a business transaction.

receipt

n. · v.

US //ɹiˈsit// UK //ɹɪsˈiːt// re·ceipt

1 proof of purchase (n.)
A2 Elementary

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

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

Example

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

Example

The customer requested a detailed receipt to ensure she could claim the business expenses on her annual tax return.
- proof of purchase
- voucher
- slip
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.
2 the act of receiving (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

the act of getting something that was sent to you.

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

Example

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

Example

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

Show 3 more sensesShow fewer

3 evidence of wrongdoing (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Slang

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

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

Example

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

Example

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 total money received (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal

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

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

Example

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

Example

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'.
- takings
- revenue
- proceeds
- expenditure
- outgoings
5 to mark as paid (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Technical

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

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

Example

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

Example

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

Origin

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)).