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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Lawson left with a golden ticket and a new travel destination: Hollywood. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2023 Yes, Booktok is nipping at Winfrey’s heels, especially where young readers are concerned, but her endorsement is still a golden ticket. Elisabeth Egan, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2023 If whispers at Paris Fashion Week this month are to believed, Aubade is seen as the region's premier independent brand retailer by the jewelry design community, the golden ticket to a diverse retail market that appears deceptively simple to crack. Kate Matthams, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023 Then, fill one egg with a golden ticket or certificate to redeem a larger prize. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2023 For Russians, an Argentine passport is something of a golden ticket, granting visa-free access to more than 170 countries. Natalia Abbakumova, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2023 See more a Babiekins » 14 Bring out everyone's competitive side by hiding a golden ticket in one plastic egg, and seeing how far people are willing to go to track it down. Alesandra Dubin, Good Housekeeping, 23 Feb. 2023 Kya Monee' competed on Season 4, earning three yes's from the judges and clinching a coveted golden ticket. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'golden ticket.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near golden ticket

Cite this Entry

“Golden ticket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/golden%20ticket. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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