golden ticket

noun

plural golden tickets
: an extremely valuable opportunity or means of access to something desired
Back in 2005, the little-known playwright Glen Berger snagged a golden ticket of a job: writing the script for a Spider-Man musical directed by the MacArthur-certified genius Julie Taymor (The Lion King), with a score by U2's Bono and the Edge.Thom Geier
The bachelor's degree, he thinks, is the golden ticket that makes a career and everything else possible.Thomas Frank
… everyone I fight, I am their golden ticket because they know if they can beat me, they will make a name for themselves and go on to bigger and better things.James Degale

Examples of golden ticket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
How to get 2026 World Cup Tickets Some companies have touted early ticket offers for customers, like Verizon's partnership with soccer legend David Beckham that provides golden tickets to customers for pitch-side access. Mason Leath, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2025 But before one starts celebrating like Charlie Bucket who has found a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, remember, what looks like a catalyst for portfolios in the short term can mask economic weakness in the longer term if job losses continue. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025 Consider this your golden ticket to shop smart, pack better, and snag the kind of savings that make travel season feel like a luxury — without the splurge. Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025 During the 1-hour and 45-minute trip, passengers will receive hot chocolate and a cookie from dancing chefs, listen to a reading of the book, and have their golden ticket punched by the conductor. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for golden ticket

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of golden ticket was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Golden ticket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golden%20ticket. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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