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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Networking is your golden ticket—rub elbows with industry pros, hit up events and join online communities. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 While the pass sounds like a golden ticket to fans of the parks' most popular attractions, the pricing has raised some eyebrows. Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024 If Sony desires a franchise from the Supermassive library, Until Dawn is their golden ticket. Aimee Hart, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024 The package also showed popcorn, an apple with a pastry, a golden ticket and a church robe. Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 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

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 17 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!