meal ticket

noun

: one that serves as the ultimate source of one's income
an advanced degree was his meal ticket

Examples of meal ticket in a Sentence

a star player who is expected to be the team's meal ticket for many years An advanced degree was his meal ticket. We bought three meal tickets at the fair.
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.
Deprived of his meal ticket, Robin sees no reason to remain in the city. — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 Joe sees Michael as a meal ticket, and intends to control him and the family. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Apr. 2026 There were hints of potential trouble — he was often said to be drunk on camera — but few dared to mess with their meal tickets, so to speak. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 An indie rock band struggling to make its mark finds a possible meal ticket in an infectious new guitar riff. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meal ticket

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meal ticket was circa 1899

Rhymes for meal ticket

See All Rhymes for meal ticket

Browse Nearby Words

meals-on-wheels
meal ticket
mealtide
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meal ticket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meal%20ticket. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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